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'If we don't get them out, they die' 'If we don't get them out, they die'
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By Andrew Fletcher BBC Radio 5 Live, Merseyside Fire fighters discuss their tactics as they enter the buildingMore than 100 fire fighters are taking part in search and rescue exercises at three locations, in an attempt to test their competency in case of a major incident. So how realistic are these rehearsals?By Andrew Fletcher BBC Radio 5 Live, Merseyside Fire fighters discuss their tactics as they enter the buildingMore than 100 fire fighters are taking part in search and rescue exercises at three locations, in an attempt to test their competency in case of a major incident. So how realistic are these rehearsals?
It's not the usual scene that shoppers in Kirby on a Saturday morning are accustomed to. It's not the usual scene that shoppers in Kirkby on a Saturday morning are accustomed to.
Firefighters wearing orange search and rescue overalls are preparing to enter a two-storey concrete leisure centre.Firefighters wearing orange search and rescue overalls are preparing to enter a two-storey concrete leisure centre.
Their task is to find 12 people lying beneath mounds of rubble in a crater several metres below the ground floor.Their task is to find 12 people lying beneath mounds of rubble in a crater several metres below the ground floor.
It will take them 24 hours to carry out a complex and demanding search and rescue operation.It will take them 24 hours to carry out a complex and demanding search and rescue operation.
Although this is just a training exercise, the "casualties" are not dummies but people - colleagues of the search teams who've agreed to spend the day in vacuums at the bottom of a dry diving pool at Kirkby swimming baths on Merseyside.It's as realistic as it can be, says Steve HancockAlthough this is just a training exercise, the "casualties" are not dummies but people - colleagues of the search teams who've agreed to spend the day in vacuums at the bottom of a dry diving pool at Kirkby swimming baths on Merseyside.It's as realistic as it can be, says Steve Hancock
The pool has been painstakingly filled with furniture and rubble to replicate a crater caused by an explosion and the collapse of a building.The pool has been painstakingly filled with furniture and rubble to replicate a crater caused by an explosion and the collapse of a building.
One of the firefighters taking part in the exercise, Steve Hancock from Croxteth fire station, said they were given few details of the scenario in advance, so they would make an assessment just like in a real situation.One of the firefighters taking part in the exercise, Steve Hancock from Croxteth fire station, said they were given few details of the scenario in advance, so they would make an assessment just like in a real situation.
"From a realism point of view, without having casualties that are injured, that's the only difference."From a realism point of view, without having casualties that are injured, that's the only difference.
"The way that the exercises are set up, the 'breach and breaking' that we use, the concrete chainsaws we still have to use, all that equipment that we would ordinarily use - along with the technique of just getting down on to these people - is the same as in a real incident.""The way that the exercises are set up, the 'breach and breaking' that we use, the concrete chainsaws we still have to use, all that equipment that we would ordinarily use - along with the technique of just getting down on to these people - is the same as in a real incident."
Ticking clockTicking clock
Testing the skills of fire and rescue teams is a key part of the exercise, but the intention is also to find out how well the fire service's command structures and communications systems would stand up to a disaster unfolding in three separate locations. We've constructed a series of "hides" within the property which will require some pretty demanding efforts to locate and extricate casualties Dan StephensMerseyside Fire Service Rescue drill for 'terror attack'Testing the skills of fire and rescue teams is a key part of the exercise, but the intention is also to find out how well the fire service's command structures and communications systems would stand up to a disaster unfolding in three separate locations. We've constructed a series of "hides" within the property which will require some pretty demanding efforts to locate and extricate casualties Dan StephensMerseyside Fire Service Rescue drill for 'terror attack'
For that reason, similar scenarios are being played out simultaneously at two other locations - RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and the National Fire Service Training College at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire.For that reason, similar scenarios are being played out simultaneously at two other locations - RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and the National Fire Service Training College at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire.
One hundred and twenty fire fighters are taking part in the exercise which is the biggest of its kind to be held in the UK.One hundred and twenty fire fighters are taking part in the exercise which is the biggest of its kind to be held in the UK.
Area Commander Dan Stephens, who's in charge of the whole operation, thinks it will be an invaluable exercise.Area Commander Dan Stephens, who's in charge of the whole operation, thinks it will be an invaluable exercise.
"Our colleagues in the ambulance service have set a timeline on all of the casualties, so the clock is ticking and notionally if we don't get them out, then they die.""Our colleagues in the ambulance service have set a timeline on all of the casualties, so the clock is ticking and notionally if we don't get them out, then they die."
Joining three fire fighters from Croxteth as they made their way to the exercise just after 0800, the mood on board the fire engine was relaxed as the officers put on their search and rescue uniforms.Joining three fire fighters from Croxteth as they made their way to the exercise just after 0800, the mood on board the fire engine was relaxed as the officers put on their search and rescue uniforms.
Survival timesSurvival times
This being an exercise, the blue light was not flashing. Outside the swimming pool building, crew members set about the business of assessing the situation and making the building safe to enter.This being an exercise, the blue light was not flashing. Outside the swimming pool building, crew members set about the business of assessing the situation and making the building safe to enter.
Had this been a real emergency the scene may have been quite different, but inside the building barriers and obstacles have been erected to make life as difficult as possible for the search and rescue teams.Had this been a real emergency the scene may have been quite different, but inside the building barriers and obstacles have been erected to make life as difficult as possible for the search and rescue teams.
Each of the 12 firefighters playing the role of casualties has been assigned a different set of supposed injuries and likely survival times.Each of the 12 firefighters playing the role of casualties has been assigned a different set of supposed injuries and likely survival times.
Dog teams will assist in locating them. At the end of the exercise the firefighters will know whether their efforts were enough to save all those missing.Dog teams will assist in locating them. At the end of the exercise the firefighters will know whether their efforts were enough to save all those missing.
Since the attacks in America of 11 September 2001 the government and emergency services have stepped up what's known as national resilience planning.Since the attacks in America of 11 September 2001 the government and emergency services have stepped up what's known as national resilience planning.
The Home Office report into the London bombings of 7 July 2005 praised the strength and flexibility of the planning, while stressing that national resilience planning must be a continuing activity.The Home Office report into the London bombings of 7 July 2005 praised the strength and flexibility of the planning, while stressing that national resilience planning must be a continuing activity.
This exercise will reveal the effectiveness of the latest thinking on how best to carry out urban search and rescue.This exercise will reveal the effectiveness of the latest thinking on how best to carry out urban search and rescue.
Those taking part hope the lessons they learn will not have to be put into practice in a real disaster, but they are convinced the exercise will leave them better placed to cope should the worst happen.Those taking part hope the lessons they learn will not have to be put into practice in a real disaster, but they are convinced the exercise will leave them better placed to cope should the worst happen.