Make paws four

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:17 pm

London has a new addition to its urban search and rescue (USAR) capability with the arrival of four USAR dogs. The dogs and their handlers are provided by three fire and rescue services, two from Hampshire, one each from Essex and Lincolnshire.

The incident commander will request the dogs from Control if they are needed to support a USAR type incident, following consultation with a USAR advisor. Control then pass this on to the Fire and Rescue Service National Coordination Centre in West Yorkshire, who will mobilise the nearest dog team to the incident. It is expected that by the end of 2009 all USAR Brigades will have a dog capability with a total of 20 dogs being available nationally.

The dogs and their handlers recently visited Southwark Training Centre for a photo-call. Pictured clockwise from left to right are: Steve Hogs and Rooney from Lincolnshire, Graham Curry and Kirby from Essex, Willie Baker and Barney from Hampshire, Mick Barrett and Tyler from Hampshire with London’s Richard Binder in the centre.

The USAR trained dogs are a valuable tool in the location of casualties in collapsed buildings. The dogs can work in areas where it is potentially dangerous for people to operate in. They are light and due to the number of points of contact, four paws, spread what loading they impose on the structure over a wider area than a human being. The speed with which they are able to cover an area of collapse exceeds that of other technical search methods. The dogs are trained to detect live casualties and because they work by scent, can detect unconscious casualties where audible and vibration methods may fail.