CERT BICEPP Competition 2004

This event includes several patients that need to be packaged or carried from the area. It requires team members to use several lifts/carry such as, two man carries, blanket and chair carry. Team members do a primary rapid patient assessment and package up a patient utilizing tools for spinal immobilization such as: stabilization of the head and neck, duct tape, head rolls, backboard and straps. Once the patient is packaged the team moves the patient.

Experienced search and rescue personnel have found these search methods to be effective:

1. Begin the search by calling out to victims.

2. Use a systematic search pattern

3. Stop frequently to listen. Listen for tapping, movement or voices.

4. Triangulate. Triangulation enables rescuers to view a single location from several perspectives.

5. Mark searched areas to document results.

6. Report results, keeping complete records both of removed victims and of victims who remain trapped or are dead.

Triage is a French term meaning "to sort".

During triage, victims are evaluated, sorted by the urgency of the treatment needed, and set up for immediate or delayed treatment. Victims' conditions are evaluated and the victims are prioritized and labeled (tagged) into three categories:

Immediate (I) -- The victim has life-threatening (airway, bleeding or shock) injuries that demand immediate attention to save his or her life; rapid, life-saving treatment is urgent.

Delayed (D) -- Injuries do not jeopardize the victims' life. The victim may require professional care, but treatment can be delayed.

Dead (DEAD) -- No respiration after two attempts to open the airway. Because CPR is one-on-one and is labor-intensive, CPR is not performed when there are many more victims than rescuers.

The CERT program goal is to do the greatest good for the greatest number.