OSTRAVA 2008

USAR teams practiced search and rescue of persons in the industrial area, which was destroyed by the tornado Ester. This tornado caused the destruction of the buildings, objects, chemical contamination, transport accidents, fires and under the rubbles people.Teams have brought all its equipment and meals to the Czech Republic.

Two USAR teams represent the Czech Republic – one from FRS Prague and next one from FRS Moravian-Silesian region. 160 members of fire units, doghandlers and other members of the modules have participated in this exercise. About 30 persons simulated injured and under the rubble people. And about 20 persons took part in this exercise as a organizational part. Observers from foreign countries have arrived on Thursday - VIP day.

USAR teams are deployed in case of large emergency situations and natural disasters, for example earthquake, cave-ins, tsunamis etc. They are specialized for rescuing from debris, heights and depths. Teams are ready to be deployed in a few hours by plane or by theirs own vehicles to abroad and effectively intervene anywhere in cooperation with local rescue teams.

The Ostrava USAR team consists of 23 firefighters and 5 dog handlers with dogs, the Prague USAR team consists of 24 firefighters and 6 dog handlers with dogs. Team from Prague was established at the end of 90th years, team from Moravian-Silesian region was established in June 2007. But its members are among the most experienced and the most versatile professional firefighters from FRB Moravian-Silesian region. Groups of this Ostrava team intervened in liquidation of avian flu in Pardubice region or when the factory hall has collapsed in Kladno.,

The USAR team from FRS of the Moravian-Silesian region is equipped with the most modern search and rescue equipment, including breathing apparatus. In addition to climbing equipment, there are chainsaws, shredders for metal and masonry, drills, jackhammers, hydraulic stands, but also high-quality devices for searching for trapped people (echo-locator, bioradar, slot cameras...) and hydraulic tools for extricating the injured from vehicles. Of course, the equipment also includes specially trained and certified dogs.

The exercise in Ostrava is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic, while similar exercises are organized annually by colleagues from Poland, and both Czech teams go there to practice.

Autor článku : Tiskový mluvčí HZS Moravskoslezského kraje