[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E232-E234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF NORTH HUDSON REGIONAL FIRE AND RESCUE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor North Hudson 
Regional Fire and Rescue (NHRFR) and its outstanding professional 
firefighters and rescue personnel who are the pride of the five 
northern New Jersey communities that they serve with such great 
distinction--Union City, Weehawken, North Bergen, West New York and 
Guttenberg.
  In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade 
Center and the Pentagon, there is renewed national appreciation and 
respect for the heroic men and women who put their lives at risk in the 
line of duty every day in every American community. These are truly the 
heroes in our midst, each and every one an authentic profile in 
courage. I share the pride of my fellow Hudson County citizens in the 
outstanding performance of NHRFR fire and rescue personnel in support 
of their NYFD and NJ-based colleagues on 9/11, and each and every day 
preceding and following that horrific tragedy.
  Prior to my Congressional service, I had the privilege of being the 
mayor of Union City, New Jersey. As a mayor, I learned a lot about what 
it takes, in terms of money, management and leadership capability, and 
training time to develop and maintain a fire and rescue fire-responder 
team that is prepared and equipped to handle every conceivable 
emergency situation in a community. I am grateful to have had that 
experience, because I gained a great deal of understanding and insight 
about what we, as a nation, must now do to ensure that our fire and 
rescue first responders have the tools and the training to meet the 
growing demands and dangers of their public safety mission.
  Since 9/11, the mission of our local fire and rescue first responders 
has expanded exponentially, and is now elevated to the level of

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a national defense imperative. With the ominous continuing threat of 
more terrorist attacks on American soil, our local fire and rescue 
teams face a daunting array of new and highly-dangerous emergency 
response conditions, ranging from ``conventional'' bomb attacks on 
buildings, aircraft and public transportation systems, to attacks 
involving ``dirty'' nuclear bombs, lethal chemicals and biological 
warfare materials.
  Regrettably, the President's words about providing resources for 
first responders have not yet been matched with funding that our local 
fire and rescue teams desperately need for upgraded equipment and 
specialized training to meet the growing challenge of post-9/11 
terrorist attack scenarios. I have publicly urged Homeland Security 
Secretary Tom Ridge to release critical funding for our nation's first 
responders. The President's words of praise for fire-fighters and 
rescue personnel at the World Trade Center disaster site included his 
promise to deliver major funding for first responders. This 
Presidential promise must be kept, because failure to do so imperils 
the safety of the American public, and endangers the very lives of the 
heroic men and women whose job it is to run toward the danger and help 
to save their fellow human beings.

  Specialized training for our local fire and rescue first responders 
is a key area where there is a critical need for additional federal 
funding. In order to underscore the importance of good training, I 
would like to share with my colleagues an article about North Hudson 
Regional Fire and Rescue that appeared in the December, 2002 edition of 
Fire Engineering. I commend this article about NHRFR to my colleagues, 
because it will provide them with a ``window'' through which to view 
all of the complexities involved in planning and managing technical 
rope rescues. Though the NHRFR team might regard this operation as 
``just another day at the office'', the techniques employed in their 
dramatic rescue of a man who had fallen 100 feet off the Palisades 
cliffs should conjure up images in the minds of my colleagues about the 
application of these highly specialized technical skills in disaster 
site settings.
  I also want to extend my congratulations to North Hudson Regional 
Fire and Rescue for its achievement as the winner of the New Jersey 
State League of Municipalities 2002 Innovation in Governance Award for 
its exemplary Quantitative Safety Project. NHRFR's achievement has been 
further recognized by the National League of Cities, which has added 
NHRFR's project information to the NLC national research database of 
``best practices'' models.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask consent to include the text of the December 2, 
2002 Fire Engineering article about North Hudson Regional Fire and 
Rescue with my remarks in the Congressional Record.

                   [From Fire Engineering, Dec. 2002]

              Planning and Managing Technical Rope Rescues

                          (By Anthony Avillo)

       On October 11, 2002, North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire & 
     Rescue responded to the Palisades cliffs for a reported 
     injured man. The victim was discovered approximately 100 feet 
     below Boulevard East in Weehawken, New Jersey. Rescuers 
     successfully removed him from the cliffs and transported him 
     to a local hospital, where he was treated for injuries 
     suffered in the fall and for hypothermia (see photos and 
     cover photo).
       Successful technical rope rescues (TRRs) do not just 
     happen. Successful rope and rigging operations are the end 
     product of a program approach based on planning, preplanning, 
     practice, and implementation.
       There are three priorities to address whenever operating at 
     a technical rescue:
       Priority 1: Safety of operating personnel (Command's 
     overriding concern).
       Priority 2: Stabilization of the victim medically and of 
     possible incident complications.
       Priority 3: Victim removal.


                            keys to success

       For a positive outcome, you must consider the following 
     points:
       Preplanning. A large percentage of TRR decisions lend 
     themselves to preplanning. The ``we'll figure it out on the 
     mountain'' school of thought is a failure-rich mindset. When 
     preplanning, consider tactics, strategies, and action paths. 
     Preplanning clears the screen for the rescue commander and 
     allows him to focus on unique aspects and variables of the 
     particular incident. TRRs require rapid, on-site decisions 
     and tactics. This task can consume command energy and divert 
     attention away from other command and control goals. If you 
     preplan system construction, apparatus placement (anchor 
     points), and on-line and in-system personnel assignments, the 
     IC and rescue personnel will arrive on-scene with a continuum 
     of pre-determinations and are more able to respond to the 
     variables.
       Training and technical skills. North Hudson Regional 
     performs three or four of these rescues a year, and each 
     presents its own set of challenges. Improvisation is often 
     the name of the game to be successful. Remember, however, 
     that only through mastery of the technical skills and 
     equipment required to conduct a technical rope rescue is safe 
     improvisation possible. To be able to safely improvise at the 
     scene takes countless hours of training and extreme 
     familiarity with the equipment.
       At times, it may be necessary--based on staffing and the 
     demands of the rescue--to teach simple rescue techniques such 
     as belay line on the spot as the incident is unfolding. This 
     still requires initial personnel with technical skills.
       Preassigned positioning of the rescue team. Successfully 
     conducting this type of operation requires developing an 
     organization prior to the incident. Training on rigging 
     construction and rope and knot skills is essential, but you 
     also must focus on preassignment of incident positions and 
     responsibilities. Address span-of-control issues and key 
     operating positions, and spell out responsibilities and 
     duties in standard operating procedures. Preassign primary 
     and backup personnel for all on-line and rigging positions. 
     It is a good idea to have at least one member of each on-line 
     team trained to at least the first responder or EMT level so 
     that you can perform an immediate victim assessment when you 
     reach the victim. Also preassign Command positions such as 
     rescue group leader, hauling boss (that member assigned to 
     run the actual hauling/lowering operation), rigging master 
     (the member assigned to oversee all anchoring and rigging 
     operations), hot zone safety officer, and other support 
     positions. Continuous cross-training of personnel will 
     increase organizational and operational flexibility and thus 
     effectiveness.
       Apparatus positioning. You get only one chance to position 
     properly at this type of incident. Officers should stage 
     apparatus for optimal tactical flexibility. Congesting the 
     scene, especially in a remote area where many of these 
     rescues take place, will only complicate the problem. Aerial 
     apparatus should get the key positions, as the device will 
     likely be used as a gin pole from which to lower personnel 
     and hoist victims. Again, preplan. Companies responding 
     without aerial capability must not drive into the middle of 
     the operational zone.
       Foremost in the minds of the IC and the first-arriving 
     officers is the availability of anchor points. These should 
     be ``bombproof,'' or immovable. Common anchor points include 
     apparatus, trees, telephone poles, and solidly anchored 
     fences. In apparatus-unfriendly areas, big trees or big rocks 
     have been used. Leave a clear path between anchor points, 
     hauling/lowering devices, and the target zone.
       Command and control. Strong command and control are 
     integral to safe, organized, and coordinated rescue 
     operations. The key to this organization is decentralization 
     of the rescue ground. If this can be resolved prior to an 
     incident, the less the IC has to think about in regard to how 
     to break down the operational area and to whom to assign 
     these responsibilities.
       Predesignation of rescue personnel coupled with an 
     effective SOP that is both adhered to and enforced is the 
     first step in this organizational process. One of the most 
     crucial positions assigned is the Operations Section chief, 
     who will act as a buffer between the IC and the rescue 
     operation, freeing the IC to attend to other issues pertinent 
     to the incident, while not directly participating in the 
     operation itself.
       Control of the scene by designating operational zones is 
     the next step in the command and control process. Address 
     scene and perimeter control in SOPs, similar to establishing 
     haz-mat control zones. Control zones are as follows:
       Target zone: The area where the victim is located. Keep the 
     number of target zone personnel to a bare minimum, usually 
     two rescuers. This is the most dangerous area on the rescue 
     ground, usually the last zone established and the first 
     terminated. A major focus of Command should be to minimize 
     operational time in the target zone. It is essential that, 
     whatever number of rescuers are on-line, there be an equal 
     number of rescuers (basically a rescue rapid intervention 
     team) properly geared up and ready to go should something go 
     wrong in the target zone.
       Hot zone: The main area where technical rescue operations 
     (rope systems and rigging) take place. Participation in the 
     hot zone should be by ``invitation only'' and be limited to 
     those personnel whose duties and responsibilities are 
     directly related to the safe setup, operation, and breakdown 
     of rescue systems. The rescue group leader, hot zone safety 
     officer, hauling boss, rigging master, and rescue group 
     support personnel are located in the hot zone.
       Warm zone: The area where support of the technical rescue 
     operation is attended to. The Operations Section chief is 
     generally located in this area. He should liaison with the 
     hot zone safety officer and rescue group leader and reinforce 
     and support the hot zone activities as required. He will also 
     keep Command informed and updated on incident progress. 
     Generally, if the incident is going smoothly, the Operations 
     Section chief remains in the warm zone. He only moves if the 
     need arises. The incident safety officer, whose duty is to 
     monitor overall scene safety, is generally located in the 
     warm zone but may spend some time in the other zones as the 
     situation dictates. Also initially located in the warm zone 
     are those personnel who will support the operation and work 
     in the hot zone once the rescue system is assembled. They are 
     essentially hauling personnel,

[[Page E234]]

     who are best kept a safe distance from the main setup area 
     until the hauling/lowering is ready to proceed.
       Cold zone: This is the area where incident support 
     operations are directed to both the internal rescue operation 
     and external activities required to coordinate and bring the 
     incident under control. The Command Post is located in this 
     area, providing direction and overall control of the 
     incident. An accountability officer and entry control point 
     supervisor should also be located in this area. In addition, 
     firefighter rehab and EMS are located in the cold zone, as 
     are personnel assigned as tactical reserve.
       Public zone: This area is for such extrinsic activities as 
     public information. The department's public information 
     officer should establish a press area. Uncommitted apparatus 
     staging should also be located in this zone. Perimeter and 
     scene control is nothing new to the fire service, but it is a 
     critical and often overlooked portion of the technical rescue 
     operation.
       Victim/target zone access and stabilization. The main 
     priority of the entire operation must be the victim and where 
     he is located (the target zone). The rescue group leader must 
     determine the safest, most effective path for rescuers to 
     reach the victim.
       Assess target zone terrain. Ask yourself, What hazards are 
     present? Is it dark? Is a steep slope involved? Is there a 
     frictionless footing hazard such as wet or icy terrain? Are 
     there anchor points in the target zone that can be used as 
     temporary tie-offs for rescuers? What special equipment will 
     be required to work in the target zone, and what is the best 
     way to get it there? Utility umbilicals should be built into 
     all rescue systems to ferry equipment and supplies to the 
     target zone. Lifelines should NOT be used for this purpose.
       Then, assess the victim: Can you even see the victim? Is 
     there more than one victim? Can a thermal imaging camera 
     help? What is the probable medical profile of the victim(s)? 
     You must try to improve victim comfort as soon as possible. 
     This may include conducting a medical assessment in the 
     target zone, providing blankets to keep body heat from being 
     lost, and administering fluids and possibly intravenous 
     medication prior to removal. The rescue group leader must 
     keep the victim's comfort in mind as the incident unfolds. 
     Sometimes, so much is going on topside that the victim's 
     needs take a backseat. Remember, the entire complex operation 
     stems from the victim's predicament.
       EMS considerations. EMS will play a large part in this type 
     of rescue, from administering to the victim to medical 
     monitoring of rescue personnel. As with any other agency, 
     determine the scope of EMS personnel's participation, roles, 
     and responsibilities in advance. Assign an EMS group 
     supervisor, preferably prior to the incident. The bulk of the 
     EMS responders should remain in the cold zone, with 
     unobstructed access into and out of the operational area. A 
     skeleton crew of EMS personnel with equipment should stand by 
     in the warm zone until the victim has been packaged and is 
     being removed from the target zone. EMS personnel should be 
     in a safe area (you can call this area the victim landing 
     zone) where they can have immediate access to the victim when 
     he is brought safely topside.
       Unassigned personnel/staffing considerations. To conduct 
     technical rope rescues safely and properly requires much 
     staffing. Command must ensure that a tactical reserve is on-
     scene as soon as possible. A good rule of thumb to follow is 
     to double the number of personnel you think you will need. To 
     maintain proper control over incoming personnel, establish 
     strict staging and nonassigned personnel policies. Additional 
     personnel should report to the command post for assignment. 
     This requires a gatekeeper position similar to the lobby 
     control officer in a high-rise operation. Establish a 
     gatekeeper position at each zone to keep track of who passes 
     in and out.
       From the command post, assign staffing as per the 
     requirements set forth by the operational zones. As stated, 
     personnel will be required for the bull work, the working of 
     rescue and belay lines. These personnel are not usually 
     essential to the rigging operation, so stage them in the warm 
     zone. When they are needed, conduct a briefing outlining 
     their hot zone duties. In the hot zone, brief them again 
     prior to operation.
       You will need other personnel for equipment and stretcher 
     shuttles, lighting, and other support operations not directly 
     involved in the rescue but essential to the operation. 
     Remember, too, that other odd jobs will always pop up. The 
     work of support personnel keeps the operation moving in the 
     proper direction.
       Communications. Communications during large-scale incidents 
     can be a nightmare if you do not properly control and 
     predetermine them before the incident. The rescue team (on-
     line), the rescue group leader, and the hot zone safety 
     officer at a minimum should operate on a rescue frequency 
     (basically the fireground frequency) while the Operations 
     Section chief and the IC maintain a Command frequency. Aides 
     can be used to monitor the rescue frequency.
       Although many of the communications will be face-to-face, 
     also establish a hand signal communication system--especially 
     for the member operating the aerial device. From the 
     turntable, it may be difficult to hear the commands of 
     someone guiding the device over the target zone.
       Establish communication with the victim as soon as 
     possible. Make every effort to put him at ease. Explain to 
     the victim that he should not risk further injury by trying 
     to respond to conversation or attempting to help the rescuers 
     in the rescue operation. Also explain to the victim what is 
     taking place and how the rescue will unfold. Establishing 
     confidence and trust will greatly assist in the transition 
     (vertical trip) from the target zone to the hot zone.
       Safety. Safety must be the IC's overriding concern at all 
     times. He must have zero tolerance for firefighter injury and 
     must communicate this attitude through strong command and 
     control.
       A predesignated hot zone safety officer must oversee the 
     operation in the hot zone and monitor and advise on 
     activities in the target zone. He must have the technical 
     skills and training of the other members operating in the hot 
     and target zones. An overall incident safety officer should 
     monitor hazards in the other designated operational zones. 
     Safety should permeate the entire rescue ground.
       Aerial devices must be rated for rope operations. Light-
     duty ladders rated for 250 pounds at the tip are not 
     acceptable. Aerials should be rated for at least 500 pounds 
     at the tip. Platforms may be well-suited if they have an 
     adequate tip load to handle such rescues. Use aerial devices 
     as gin poles only. While rotation of the devices is 
     acceptable and will be necessary, using the devices for 
     raising and lowering a load is not advised. This should be 
     done only by manipulation of the rope systems.
       All rope systems for rigging and on-line operations should 
     be redundant--no member should operate with fewer than two 
     ropes attached to him. The same is true for any victims moved 
     on-line in litters.
       Use utility tag lines on all equipment lowered and raised. 
     This will eliminate unwanted equipment movement and help 
     steer it in the right direction.
       Another safety consideration is proper lighting of the 
     target zone and topside, especially if the incident will 
     extend into the night hours. Request a light unit well in 
     advance of when you'll need it.
       Engine noise and exhaust can create problems on-scene. Shut 
     down apparatus not directly involved in the operation, 
     especially those in the hot zone just being used as anchor 
     points.
       Technical rope rescue operations often show just how well 
     or how poorly a department is prepared on the command and 
     tactical levels. How well are you prepared?

                          ____________________