Structural collapse can occur in any jurisdiction at any time for a number of reasons. The fire department is usually the first to respond to these incidents. Therefore, rescue personnel must always be ready to locate and free victims from collapsed structures in the safest and most efficient way possible.

This new manual, which addresses the structural collapse portion of NFPA 1006, Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications, and the 1999 edition of NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents, is designed to go beyond the basic rescue skills detailed in the Fire Service Rescue manual to cover those needed by the rescue technician at these types of incidents.

Chapters include information on pre-incident planning and scene assessment, hazard reduction, safety, search techniques, cribbing, shoring, principles of lifting, mechanical advantage systems, lifting and moving techniques, rescue tool use for breaching and cutting, cutting techniques and safety, working with heavy equipment operators at the collapse site, moving victims and caring for them, securing and releasing the scene, and returning to postincident readiness. 8 1/2" x 11", 384 pages, photos & illus., softbound, ISBN: 0-87939-225-8, BT0840 / $46.50