Winslow Township Firefighters Practiced Structural Collapse Rescue Skills

Winslow Township, N.J. — October 17 — Members of the Camden County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, including personnel from the Winslow Township Fire Department, participated in hands-on structural collapse drills last week.

The training focused on various technical rescue skills such as reconnaissance, structural stabilization, breaching, search operations, patient care, and patient packaging. These skills enable rescue teams to evaluate damaged structures, identify potential dangers, and establish safe methods for reaching and extracting trapped individuals.

In the event of structural collapse incidents, crews must carefully evaluate the condition of the building and minimize the risk of further movement before entering affected zones. Stabilization, controlled breaching, and coordinated searches allow teams to locate victims safely while protecting rescuers and other personnel in the area.

Patient care and packaging are also essential components of the rescue process. Once a victim is located, responders must evaluate the patient's condition and prepare them for transport through available entry points.

The exercise allowed team members to practice their skills and refine technical rescue procedures. The Winslow Township Fire Department expressed gratitude to the participating team members and the Camden County Department of Public Safety’s Office of Emergency Management for supporting the training.

Camden County’s Office of Emergency Management oversees preparedness and response efforts among local public safety agencies and other partners. Joint exercises help agencies prepare to collaborate effectively during complex emergencies. Camden County Office of Emergency Management.