Earthquake Rescue Handbook-Rescue Action: Collaborate across Teams

There should be building structure experts in the rescue team.

Hazardous materials experts shall assist the search and rescue team in identifying dangerous items, assessing the surrounding and internal air conditions of the building and subsequent reassessment.

Medical experts should provide medical assessments and provide treatment to survivors. Search and rescue personnel should ensure that medical personnel can reach the survivors as soon as possible, which may require temporary suspension of search and rescue work.

Heavy equipment experts should provide advice when search and rescue work requires cranes, heavy transporters, and other equipment. In addition, they must act as a liaison between search and rescue personnel and equipment operators to ensure effective communication between the two parties.

Technical information experts record the progress of the rescue operation.

The head of the search and rescue team needs to integrate other personnel, including utilities, law enforcement, military and volunteers.