1. The core significance of building collapse rescue
Building collapse rescue is one of the most complex, dangerous and urgent tasks in emergency rescue. Its significance is not only to save lives, but also:
1. Race against time - within the "golden 72 hours" after the collapse, rescue efficiency directly determines the survival rate of trapped people
2. Multiple risk control - In the face of multiple dangers such as unstable structures, secondary collapses, harmful gases, and fires, scientific rescue can protect trapped people and rescuers
3. Maximize life preservation - accurate positioning, safe demolition, and stable support are the keys to avoiding secondary injuries to trapped people
4. Maintain social order and hope - In major collapse accidents, professional rescue is the pillar of public confidence and reflects the country's respect for life
2. Main applicable scenarios
Building collapse rescue mainly responds to the following scenarios:
. Natural disasters cause: earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rains caused landslides and impact buildings, etc
. Problems of the building itself: structural aging, quality defects, illegal transformation
. Man-made accidents: explosions, impacts, construction accidents
. Common collapse forms:
o Tilted support type - forms a triangular living space, which is more likely to survive
o V-shaped collapse – a break in the middle of the floor slab to form a V-shaped space
o Cascading collapse - the superstructure is completely crushed to the lower layer, and the damage is serious
o Cantilever collapse - one end of the component is supported to form a suspended living space
3. Introduction to common rescue equipment
Equipment category | Main equipment | Description of use |
Personal protective equipment | Rescue helmets, goggles, dust masks, rescue suits, rescue boots, gloves, etc | Ensure the basic safety of rescuers and prevent injuries from falling objects, dust and sharp objects |
Search for positioning equipment | Life detectors (sonic/radar), search and rescue dogs, gas detectors | Quickly locate trapped people and assess environmental safety |
Jacking and support equipment | Hydraulic jacking equipment, pneumatic jacking pads, manual jackers | Lift heavy objects and create rescue channels |
Support and reinforce equipment | Wooden/metal support rods, door and window support systems, tic-tac-toe supports, T-shaped supports | Reinforce unstable structures to prevent secondary collapse |
Demolition equipment | Hydraulic demolition tool set (shearing, expanding, | Break down concrete, steel bars, brick walls, etc |
| cut), impact drill, concrete saw | obstacles, opening up life-saving channels |
Remove and move equipment | Pulley system, lifting air cushion, digging tools | Remove large obstacles and move rubble |
Communication and tagging systems | Signal whistles, spray paint, fluorescent markers | On-site communication, area identification, hazard warning |
4. Basic rescue process and key points of equipment use
Building collapse rescue follows the systematic process of "assessment→ search→ support→ demolition→ removal → transfer":
1. Site assessment and zoning
o Set up hot zones (rescue operations), warm zones (equipment preparation), and cold zones (command and support)
o Use the American search and tag system to identify hazards, survivor locations, rescue progress
o Assess structural stability: √ accessible / ⚠ need support / × hazards need to be evacuated
2. Search and target
o Combined with manual calling, search and rescue dogs, and instrument detection for comprehensive search
o Progressing step by ASR level: Extensive assessment → zoning assessment→ comprehensive search
3. Jacking and support first
o Principle: support first, then enter; Stabilize first, then dismantle
o Support and reinforcement of key points such as doors, windows, beams and columns, floor slabs (vertical/horizontal/diagonal support)
o Use pneumatic jacking pads to carefully lift the heavy plate to avoid sudden instability
4. Safe demolition and channel construction
o Choose suitable demolition tools according to the material (wood, masonry, reinforced concrete, metal).
o Continuously monitor structural changes during demolition, and set up safety officers to observe and warn
o Create a triangular stable channel as much as possible to reduce vibration
5. Obstacle removal and casualty transfer
o Use pulley sets and lever principle systems to remove large obstacles
o Use spinal plates and stretchers to smoothly transport the wounded to avoid secondary injuries
5. Special safety reminders
. The risk of secondary collapse is always present – structural safety must be continuously assessed during the rescue process
. Hazardous gas monitoring - Underground space pays special attention to hypoxia and toxic gas accumulation
. Team Signaling System:
o Three short voices = emergency evacuation
o A long voice = pause in silence
o One long and one short = resume the job
. "One person operates, one person supervises" - high-risk operations must be monitored by safety officers throughout the process Building collapse rescue is the ultimate test of physical strength, technology, experience and teamwork.
What we support is not only a collapsed building, but also the hope of life.
Every safe and scientific rescue is the highest tribute to life.
Remember: evaluation first, support-oriented, orderly demolition, and life first.
May every departure be returned safely.