If the subject is able to walk safely, your responsibility may be simply to assist the subject as necessary. If the subject’s condition warrants, a technical evacuation may be necessary. Usually, a Rescue Group Supervisor (Rescue Supervisor) will be appointed by Command to manage operations at the scene. This person will communicate with Command to get necessary equipment and personnel to the scene and will provide overall direction of the evacuation. The Rescue Supervisor will generally assign a Safety Officer. The Safety Officer’s job is to maintain overall awareness of operational safety. The Safety Officer will check each system (or see that each system is checked by someone qualified to do so) before it is loaded. When you finish setting up your portion of the rescue system, ask for the Safety Officer to come and inspect the system. If you make any changes to it, ask for a re-inspection.
Technical evacuation requires knowledge of ropes, knots, rescue systems, and litters. Several chapters of this manual are devoted to these topics.
