Helsinki rescue unit H15.jpg

n this picture, rescue unit H15 is approaching to assist in a large fire in Helsinki (picture captured from a video tape taken by P?ll? in May, 2006). Behind the unit H15 the engine 31 follows. In addition, two police cars can be seen in the picture and a corner of mobile command center between the units H15 and H31.
A heavy rescue squad (or vehicle/unit) assists in various technical rescue missions (traffic accidents, accidents) - and often in fires. A strict borderline between a heavy rescue unit and an engine doesn’t exist.
An engine can sometimes carry plenty of equipment for technical rescue. However, in a rescue unit the variety of equipment is typically larger – and part of the equipment much heavier, suitable to assist not in just serious car, but metro, or train accidents. In some countries both engines and trucks are often real multi-purpose units capable to work in various kinds of accidents, fires, and medical tasks.
In Helsinki there are two rescue units specialized in technical rescues. The rescue units can operate independently in smaller missions and as a part of larger operations. They can also support engines and aerials in fires, and their equipment is very suitable for working on roofs.
The sister unit of H15 is H25, which operates also as a rescue diver’s unit, occupies marine station (where are a high-speed boat and a larger rescue vessel) when necessary, and works as a first response unit. The 4x4 rescue units in Helsinki are typically occupied by a unit leader, driver/engineer, and 1 – 2 pairs of fire-fighters. The units are occupied by professionals for 7 days in a week, 24 hours in a day.
The unit number H15 stands for H = Helsinki, 1 = station number (central or 1st station; 2 is for the 2nd station), 5 = type of unit (rescue). The other unit in the picture - H31, comes from station 3 (Haaga) and is a fire engine (1 = type of unit, engine). The unit H15 runned more than 1750 tasks in 2005 [1]. Typically firefighters work both in a rescue unit and in an ambulance. The rotation may take place even during the shift.
A trend-setting list of equipment in a rescue unit follows:
Communications:
- vehicle mounted radio/status equipment (using encrypted TETRA-network; status, location)
- handheld radios (EX-type; underground use in tunnels/subway)
- mobile phone system, telephone cables
- mobile data terminal
Dangerous goods:
- handbooks on dangerous goods
- absorbing materials (rolls etc.), oil absorbing material, saw dust
- containers, buckets, wedges
- various pneumatic leak sealing bags with regulators, high pressure air hoses
- sealing taps, plugs, plastics, wedges, wax, plastic bags, chemical containers
- portable radiation meter, multi gas detection sensors, combustible gas sensor, etc.
- chemical protection suits, boots, gloves, chemical diving air apparata and masks, etc.
- small cleaning station for field conditions: showers, detergents, etc.
- glowsticks (chemical lights), duct tape, gas tape, barrier line tape, etc.
Electricity & lighting:
- (built-in) aggregate (55 kW in H25), various kind of floodlights, luminescent lights
- various kind of electric cables, earthing equipment etc.
- reversers, couplers, current reducers, adaptors, voltmeter etc.
Fire fighting and smoke diving:
- handheld fire extinguishers (carbon dioxide, dry powder), bucket fire extinguisher
- fire blanket, fire protection gloves
- extension ladder
- compressed air apparata for smoke diving, masks, regulators, dividers etc.
- smoke diving monitoring chart, several additional air containers
- hand torches, chargers, searching light, floodlights, radios for smoke diving
- smoke diving ropes, hose brackets, sport drinks, water
- ventilator (or a turbo fan; for over-pressurizing an area/building) with accessories
First aid & first response
- monitoring defibrillator, razorblade, cloth scissors
- oxygen container, regulator, oxygen masks, suction unit
- breathing mouthpiece, bag resuscitator with reservoir bag, various masks
- laryngoscope with light and various blades, various endotracheal tubes, Magill’s forceps
- vacuum mattress, vacuum splints, pump for vacuum splints, blanket
- stretcher, backboard, scoopsaver
- blood glucose tester, blood pressure meter, stethoscope
- penlight, tapes, various kind of bandages, binders, tapes, gauzes, trigonum
- sick report blankets
- infusion lines, infusion liquids, glucose liquid, sodium bicarbonate solution
- canules, stasis etc.
- acetylsalicylic acid, active carbon, isosorbide nitrate
High places & roofs:
- carabiners, ropes, knives, descenders, rescue harnesses, rope clamps
- pulleys, belay device, gear slings, etc.
- rescue cushion
Rescue diving:
- light and heavy underclothes, diving suits, SCUBA apparata, full-face diving masks, fins
- knives, weight belts, depth meters, diving computers, diving rope reels, diving compasses
- ultrasonic diving phones, diving phones, phone cables
- buoyancy vests, torches, safety ropes, hauling sack
- submersible welding equipment, welding mask for diver
- surface air equipment, air hoses etc.
- binoculars, life jackets, life ring, rescue board, ropes, ladders
Routing:
- digital map system, digital driving/navigation system
- handheld maps, special maps for underground tunnels, map of hydrants etc.
- handbooks of fire detectors, charts of various buildings and sites etc.
Tools:
- Universal keys and tools for elevators, fire detectors, fire hydrants
- keys and tools for windows, natural gas lines, gas bottles etc.
- various tools and drills for breaking locks and doors
- various general tools: screwdrivers, various kind of gavels, nails, iron wire
- combined pliers, adjustable wrenches, plate shears, open-end wrenches, socket wrenches
- pipe tongs, power tongs, saw, metal saw, hex wrenches, torx drivers, cutting pliers, etc.
- chain saws, spare chaings & Chainsaw spare parts, gasoline, logger’s helmet, breaking bar & impact bar
- electric chain saw, chipping hammer, drills, cable ties, nails, iron wires
- angle grinders, clearing saw, paving breaker, nailgun
- ice auger, ice saw, strainer, hammers, shovel, crow bar, iron bars, axes, street brushes, swab
- measuring tape, duct tape, plastic bags, wedges, spray paint for marking, marking chalks
- goggles, hearing protectors, gauntlets, dust filter masks, chemical protection masks
- various kinds of submersible pumps, hoses
- starting cables
Traffic accidents & rescue:
- high visibility traffic reflecting vests, traffic cones
- air compressor and hydraulic pump units, high pressure air hoses
- pressurized air tools: drills, air pistol, tire filling nozzles
- various types of pneumatic lifting bags
- various hydraulic cutters, several rescue chain packages
- various types of heavy hydraulic spreaders
- several telescopic ram spreaders, hydraulic jacks etc.
- pressurized air container, regulators
- air bag protection package, stabilization blocks, struts
- earthing tools for subway, electric train & tram etc. systems
- traffic sign "road closed", warning triangle, barrier tape
- (a heavy built-in) winch, pulley blocks, shackles, belts, straps, various types of slings, ratches, tackles
- a self-contained ultra-thermal cutting pack (oxygen, regulator, cables, rods, etc.)
- protective gloves, welding mask, etc.
Various:
- multipurpose cart
- box for animal transportation, net, etc.
- timber
- overalls, spare boots, etc.
General information on the Finnish rescue units can be found in Finnish, for example, at the homepages of Helsinki Rescue Department[2] and the Ministry of Interiors[3].
In 2007, the truck in the picture was replaced with a newer one shown in picture [1]. The equipment in the rescue unit has been slightly changed.Chainsaw spare parts.