It is the air of the terrorist time, the violence of the moment and the national direction of the civil security which advises it. Rescue services are encouraged to equip themselves more heavily for their own protection. “We do not have any equipment obligation,” says Lieutenant-Colonel in safety vest. “The national doctrine does not impose, it recommends. But it is hard to imagine a director engaging his workforce with nothing “adds the crisis management specialist. The Moseley subscribes and follows in the footsteps of the departments that crossed it before it which, unlike others, did not have to host matches of the Euro 2016 football that precipitated the application of the measure.
In detail, three Magellan rescue centers, “where three teams of six men per guard, plus one nurse,” were trained, will receive personal protective equipment (PPE). A pack consisting of a level 3 ballistic helmet, without reinforced visor like that of the police or gendarmerie. “It does not work on a victim.” This explains the preference of the SDIS for a splinter mask that “looks a bit like ski goggles”, illustrates Christophe Retinoid. “The extraction (of a victim, Ed) is physical. We made the choice of lightness and practicality. ”
After the head, the body will be dressed in a reflective vest (four, in front, behind and on the flanks), of a ballistic level 4 (resistant to ammunition of war). Black with a red flocking, “it is not very visible, but enough to identify us in the field. We are on sites where many orders and where tight tactical coordination “involves knowing who is in action. At this added weight, lifeguards add lighter accessories like knee pads and cut-resistant gloves. Finally, the staff will also have on them a tourniquet to pose oneself on a member or that of a wounded comrade.
It is necessary to extend the list with the collective equipments like rigid trays and flexible stretchers on which the victim is strapped and that one can tow a few meters with a cable to put it in the shelter. The radio exchange system integrates earpieces for communication as discreet as effective in a noisy environment. “We are on agile devices to be reconfigured permanently,” says Christophe Retinoid. “We have always adapted.” Trained to the nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical risks (NRBC), the reliefs add a mention “terrorism” which pushes them until the paradox of being equipped like police forces to assist victims.
The adaptation of the equipment to circumstances led the Department to open an envelope of 50 000 € for the purchase of new safety equipment. The market has been launched according to precise specifications and the rescue centers concerned should not be long in coming. “There were a lot of things we already had,” says Lieutenant-Colonel Retinoid, SDIS 57. The bill is therefore limited. At the same time, the SDIS has increased the so-called “Damage Control” training with its staff. An effort launched for eight months and continues to teach the greatest number of firefighters.
“Even though we changed air with Charlie, the trigger of conscience,” the Bata clan had an influence on how to operate, said Lieutenant-Colonel Retinoid, SDIS 57, as Nice did too and as the next attack will likely bring a new evolution in how to intervene in risky contexts.