Urban Search and Rescue

Urban Search and Rescue ( USAR ) (English: search and rescue in cities ) is the term used for rescue operations with building damage in urban construction. The characteristic damage elements require specialized training and equipment. Here, the localization high importance by rescue dogs and technical positioning systems as well as to the qualified implementation of the rescue work and also providing and supervising victims of spills, mostly during earthquakes or explosions.

Standards

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, there are several USAR teams that can be sent abroad: in Germany SEEBA ( Rapid Deployment Unit for Salvage abroad of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief ), the ISAR Germany (International Search and Rescue ), the German earthquake rescue - Dept. USAR, the @ fire International Civil Protection Germany eV and the Federal Association of Rescue Dogs ( BRH ), in Austria and in Switzerland AFDRU the Rescue Switzerland. These are members of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group ( INSARAG ).

This sets standards on the size of the teams and the ways of working. All USAR teams, irrespective of their classification and operational involvement, should be made of the following components: there are management, logistics, Search, Rescue and Medical. The INSARAG USAR team classification system has three levels of classification: Light, Medium and Heavy USAR teams.

Light USAR Teams have the operational capability to perform cursory search and rescue work immediately after the occurrence of the disaster. Usually come Light USAR teams from the country concerned or from neighboring states. It is not intended that Light USAR teams be used for disaster management.

Medium USAR Teams have the operational capacity to carry out in ruined structures technical search and rescue work. Medium USAR teams are able to break concrete to break through and cut. From Medium USAR teams is not expected to break reinforced concrete to break or cut. International Medium USAR teams traveling to an affected country within 32 hours after it was announced in the Virtual On- Site Operations Coordination Centre ( OSOCC ).

Heavy USAR Teams have the operational capability in ruined structures that are reinforced with steel and reinforced concrete, perform difficult technical search and rescue work. Heavy teams are on the international use after disasters where many ruined structures are located, aligned and are used when national resources are insufficient or exhausted. International Heavy USAR teams traveling to an affected country within 48 hours after it was announced in the virtual OSOCC.

In Germany the SEEBA BA THW has been certified according to INSARAG in the classes " Medium USAR " and "Heavy USAR " at a classification exercise ( IEC) on September 2, 2007. On October 4, 2007 I.S.A.R. Germany certified as " Medium USAR ".