The New DART Certification Test

The DART (Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) Specialist Certification Test, or DSCT, is conducted twice a year to assess the operational competency of a DART specialist. In May 2008, the test format underwent a major revamp.

The previous DSCT used to contain three component assessments, but these have been stepped up to five assessments in the revamped DSCT. The five are: the BA (Breathing Apparatus) Endurance Test, Water Rescue Test, Height Rescue Test, Confined Space Rescue Test, and the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Theory Test. This article briefly describes these test components.

The BA Endurance Test (with the Self-contained Breathing Apparatus, or SCBA)

With the demand valve plugged on, the testee executes the following:

• carry 2 x 30m hose lines and proceed towards a hydrant located 50m away where the hose lines will be coupled to;
• run 35m to a short extension ladder, carry the ladder and proceed another 15m to pitch the ladder at the designated marking;
• fireman lift a dummy and ascend via the staircase to the third floor, and place the dummy there;
• hoist up a 25kg jerry can using the Rollgliss system to the third floor;
• retrieve the dummy and bring it down to the staircase landing;
• proceed back to the hose lines, roll them up and carry them back to the start point;
• complete the circuit in 12 minutes;
• complete a 2.4km-walk with a plugged-on demand valve in 30 minutes.

The Water Rescue Test

The water rescue component comprises two sub-components, the On-shore and the In-Water techniques.

For the On-shore Technique, the testee shall:

• spot the victim, located 10m away from the edge of the pool, and deploy the rope line;
• re-deploy the throwing bag and rope line if the first throw misses the victim;
• pull the victim to safety once the victim firmly grips the line rope;
• complete the tasks in one minute.

For the In-water Technique, the testee executes the following tasks:

• swims towards the victim with the rescue buoy;
• approaches the victim from the back and secure him with the rescue buoy;
• turn the victim to a supine position and administer rescue breathing;
• tow the victim towards the starting point, while simultaneously administer three rescue breathings at regular intervals along the way;
• recover the victim out of the water in three-and-ahalf minutes.

The Height Rescue Test

The height rescue component also comprises two sub-components, the Low- Angle and the High-Angle components.

For the Low-Angle Rescue:

• the testees don the SCBA set, run a distance of 15m to the silo;
• Rescuer One ascends the Cat’s Ladder while Rescuer Two sets up the Haul Safe System at the ground level before proceeding up the silo;
• Rescuer One secures the tripod to pre-fixed anchoring points while Rescuer Two hooks up the Haul Safe System to the tripod stand;
• Rescuer Two rigs himself up the Haul Safe System, before Rescuer One lowers him mid- way into the silo;
• complete the tasks in nine minutes.

For the High-Angle Rescue, the testee shall:

• execute the ascending technique from the ground level to the third floor;
• rig up his Bar Rack descending device to a pre-fixed rope line and lock off before releasing himself from the ascending rope line;
• descend to the second floor where a dummy victim is suspended;
• lock off his descending devic e, and attach a pick-off strap to the victim;
• set up and secure the Haul Safe System above the Bar Rack;
• lift the dummy victim’s weight off the rope line, and eventually descend to the ground level with the victim secured to him;
• complete the tasks in 16 minutes.

Confined Space Rescue Test

This is a newly-introduced component in the DSCT, as confined space is a possible scenario for any Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) Operation.

The testee is expected to complete the following in four minutes:

• donning his Personal Protective Bunker Gear, the testee enters the tunnel and maneouvers towards the dummy casualty;
• the testee uses the Holmatro Spreader to lift up a concrete slab;
• the testee uses the appropriate Rigid Struts to strut and stabilise the concrete slab before extricating the dummy casualty, and evacuating him safety out of the tunnel.

End of Assessments

The testee shall then attempt all the 20 questions in the USAR Theory Test, before the full DSCT is considered to be completed. With this new format, the DSCT is now more stringent and challenging, to ensure that a DART specialist maintains an optimal performance level to meet the complex operational demands on the ground.

CPT Jason Chua Meng Teck (DART Platoon Commander, Operations Department) &
SSG Gozali Mohd Tahir (DART Section Commander, Operations Department)