Rapid Intervention Team Competition Rules

The purpose for this competition is to allow teams to show the skills needed, under a graded and timed format, for a rapid intervention of a downed firefighter. The skills applied are the same that are used on fire ground across the country. This competition is designed to go back to the “BASIC SKILLS” of the individual firefighter along with the “BASIC TOOLS” needed to rescue one of our own. Firefighter teams in this competition will show their strengths, from basic skills, such as SCBA confidence and use of tools and search, to advanced skills, such as assessing the downed firefighter, performing firefighter C.P.R. and removal of the downed firefighter. 

Although this is a timed skills event and an evolution simulating the real world, competitors will understand the assumption that all decisions and actions need to be verbalized for scoring and timing. 

Please note:  

• All communications will be over the radio
• All procedures will be done and not simulated

Many of these procedures are part of the judging process, and again must be verbalized over the radio as teams take appropriate actions. 

Team Make-Up

1. Each team shall consist of a four-man operations group with one additional Officer for Command and Control (RIT/RIC command) for a total of five (5) people.
2. Any rank of fire service member may be a part of the entry team. The Command and Control staff member shall be at least a Company Officer level position or someone who steps up as a company officer in their department. All entry teams will have a designated Entry Team Leader. The Team Leader’s responsibility will include ensuring radio transmissions of obstacles. All team members shall familiarize themselves with the timed skills events.  A question and answer session (Captain’s meeting RIT/RIC Commander) will be conducted with team leaders prior to competition.  

Preliminary and Final Skills Competition Portions

1. In the Preliminary Skills Competition session, a two-man team will be responsible for searching, assessing and packaging the downed firefighter. The second two-man team will only be allowed to enter based upon the verbalization and confirmation from the interior crew of the evaluation of the downed firefighter. Upon such time as released by the RIT/RIC commander, the second 2-man team will enter and, once they reach the downed firefighter, they will remove the downed firefighter to the point of the last skill or point of egress. Team 2 must drag the downed firefighter to the point of egress and remove the firefighter. Team 1: Once the downed firefighter is removed, you must reassess the firefighter and commence CPR if appropriate. Team 2: You must call PAR and exit the building. Scenario ends when RIT/RIC command terminates operations.
2. In the Final Skills Competition scenario, a two-man team will be responsible for searching, assessing and packaging the downed firefighter. The second two-man team will only be allowed to enter based upon the verbalization and confirmation from the interior crew of the evaluation of the downed firefighter. Upon such time as released by the RIT/RIC command, the second team will enter and remove the downed firefighter to the point of egress. The Final Skills Competition scenario can include, but is not limited to, a pinned firefighter, disoriented firefighter, medical emergency while in an IDLH, low air pressure of firefighter’s SCBA and disentanglement of a lost firefighter. Scenarios may include one or a combination of any of the previously listed possibilities. 

 

Timing

Preliminary Skills Competition 
For the preliminary portion of the competition, each team will have time to assure that personal accountability and radio communications is established, and the team is ready to go. After that, the team will get into position to start. Teams will hear a radio transmitted MAYDAY. After the MAYDAY, the RIT/RIC Commander will release the forcible entry team. At the first strike of the tools, the clock will start. The first team will be required to carry a spare SCBA, mask (RIT/RIC bag), appropriate hand tools for forcible entry/exit and radio. Bag and tools will be provided. Each member may have personal tools that they normally carry in their bunker gear.

Final Competition Skills
A MAYDAY will be announced with a standardized scenario for all competitors. Upon acknowledgment of the MAYDAY, the clock will begin when the RIT/RIC commander acknowledges the MAYDAY, releases the RIT/RIC into action and the entry team crosses the threshold. There will be a maximum time limit of 25 minutes from entry to exit. The first team will be required to carry a spare scba, mask (RIT/RIC bag), appropriate hand tools for forcible entry/exit and radio. Bag and tools will be provided. Each member may have personal tools that they normally carry in their bunker gear. The use of a search rope will be mandatory and will be provided by FROG for the team.  

 

Scoring

Preliminaries Skills Competition
Scoring will be on a timed basis. Any missed skill or safety infraction will have a “time plus” penalty added to the final time. Each team receives a raw score and then an adjusted score based on the judges' review for any safety or procedural infractions. These infractions are penalized by “time plus” additions. Hand tools must be brought in and out of the structure to avoid time penalties.

Final Skills Competition
Scoring will be a positive accumulation of points to include in general:

• Radio acknowledgment and repeat of LUNAR or similar report
• Once contact is made with victim, radio contact acknowledgment of condition of victim to include: air supply, mask/seal condition, entanglement, level of consciousness and additional resources.
• Completion under the time allotted
• Team Personnel air supply tracking from RIT/RC Command
• Full PPE worn throughout
• Rope stays secure throughout
• Tools maintained throughout for possible forced exit
• Floor sounded with an axe or haligan
• PAR for entry and exit
• Packaging of victim appropriately
• PASS device secured immediately
• Air provided to victim in appropriate timing
• Team 1 charged with search, air and packaging
• Team 2 charged with removal
• Air management
• Team Safety

• Full PPE must be worn the entire evolution
• Must be on air from time of breaking the plane of entry until exiting
• Team must announce all hazards encountered
• Must sound floor with an axe or haligan before crossing hazards
• Team 2 must exit together with the victim within the allotted time
• Team must extricate downed firefighter through means of egress
• Four-member entry team with one Team Leader in the cold zone. (Team Leader will act as RIT/RIC command.)
• The RIT/RIC Commander can use their department ICS sheets or any other command aide paperwork.
• Downed firefighter must be packaged for removal via sling/webbing system, Integrated DRD or SCBA harness conversion.
• A RIT/RIC bag will be provided to all teams competing. This bag must be used by all teams and will have the following equipment:
  • SCBA bottle and mask with appropriate air supply hoses
  • One (1) halligan and (1) flat head fire department axe
  • Four(4) radios. RIT/RIC Commander has radio at command post.
• Forcible entry tools must be brought in and out to avoid penalty scoring.
• Maximum time allowed on Preliminary Skills Day will be 15 minutes.
• Maximum time allowed on Final Skills Day will be 25 minutes.  
• An accountability system will be established for the firefighters entering the hot zone.
• RIT/RIC air to be used for the firefighter victim. The remaining air may be used for team members. 

Preliminary Skills Competition
The judging standard will be based on the successful and safe completion of all twelve (12) assigned tasks. If a task is not done properly or a procedure is missed, a time penalty will be assigned to each infraction and added to the final time of the event.

Final Skills Competition
The flexibility of the RIT/RIC teams is dependent on the scenario/scene. The judging will be accordingly. There are certain requirements based on standards, as described in the following literature:

• NFPA 1500 Chapter 8, Emergency Operations
• Company Officer: Second Edition, Clinton H. Smoke, Thompson Delmar Learning Essentials Of Firefighting 5th Edition Ifsta, Brady
• Fire Service Search And Rescue: Seventh Edition, Ifsta H.

At any point, the judges can come to a unanimous vote to disqualify a team based on any major infraction, included but not limited to:

1. Any “major safety violation” that would injure the RIT/RIC team or the victim.
2. Any incident of lying, cheating, verbal harassment of participants or judges, degrading of other teams, and conduct unbecoming a fire service professional (career or volunteer).
3. If any team member within the maze runs out of air.
4. If the regulator “pops” off the mask in the maze, the team member has 10 seconds to connect the regulator back onto his/her mask; if longer than 10 seconds, the team will be disqualified.
5. If any member of the entry team crosses the threshold of the I.D.L.H. without connecting to air, that member will have 10 seconds to connect his/her regulator.