BEAUFORT, S.C. - Standing on top of an 18 foot tower, the soldiers of the 877th Engineer Company from Augusta, Ga. lower a woman to safety at the Vigilant Guard 2008 exercise in Beaufort, S.C., April 21 - 24.
A high angle extraction utilizes a tripod with pulleys and ropes to lift and lower victims. The Response International Group (RIG) from Oklahoma City sets up training sites for the National Guard and local emergency response teams to learn the most effective techniques to meet the varied circumstances. RIG also evaluates the soldiers as they go through the course. RIG has training areas set up in Oklahoma and at Fort Gruber, Okla.
"Helping the military is a way I can contribute," said Andy Lancaster, the exercise controller and President of RIG. "Kids come into class and after a while you can see the light bulb go on."
"These techniques can be used in an earthquake, hurricane, or tornado," said Lancaster. "It works for any high-rise building."
In this scenario the engineer team records their entry time and enters the structure. As they move along the tunnels, they call in on the radio every few minutes to update their position. When they encounter trapped victims, the team calls back and gives a brief assessment of each victim.
When they are able to move the victims to an area where they can exit the building the team sets up a tripod. The tripod has a pulley in the center to make it easier to move the victims.
The first victim was conscious and walking. One soldier placed her in a harness while others set up the pulley and attached her. She leaned off the edge of the structure and, with the assistance of a three-person team on the ground, was lowered down. The next victims were "unconscious" or had "severe injuries" and had to be lowered in a basket.
"The team encountered problems and they solved them," Lancaster said. "There is no text book on this."
The National Guard trains for these situations to better prepare to assist local authorities as first responders after a disaster.