Victim Identification & TIC Use

Using the TIC to search for a victim?

Many firefighters train each year on searching for victims. Due to the limitations placed on many fire departments they are often unable to train in live fire conditions. In order to “replicate” these conditions, many choose to use artificial smoke to create low or zero visibility conditions.

In theory, this seems like a good idea until we consider what the firefighter is actually seeing.

In a cold smoke environment, a human victim will show up on a thermal imaging as hot or “white hot.” This is not the case nor an accurate representation of what an actual victim may look like in a fire environment.

In the attached article, you will find more resources on why this is important and learn about the three rules we follow in searching with the TIC:

* Background temperatures
* Body temperatures
* TIC performance: Is it in high sensitivity? low sensitivity? Is it a low resolution situational awareness TIC? Did they wipe the lens before they scanned?

Learn how these affect how the victim will be displayed.

We hope this information is helpful to your department and fellow firefighters.

Insight Training LLC
Thermography Certified Fire Service Professionals

https://insighttrainingllc.com/uncate...