70th GEA Search and Rescue Exercise – Bursa

70th GEA Search and Rescue Exercise was held in Bursa between 30 August and 1 September 2013. On the first day of the camp, which was attended by 112 operation team members from Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Izmit, Eskişehir, Van, Antalya and Adana, a theoretical training was held at the Bursa Disaster Coordination Center.

In accordance with the scenario, our Mudanya-based team, who received the news that there was a severe earthquake with the alarm given at midnight, moved to the debris area after completing the logistics preparation and briefings. After field searches and technical searches in buildings, the team identified different injured victims, provided health care in cases such as crush syndrome, spine injury, head trauma and fractures in the limbs. Rescue scenarios were carried out using tunnel work in narrow space, working at heights, rope landing and rescue systems, drilling holes in different directions, navigation and gps use methods.

Practical applications were made in many subjects such as firefighting techniques in possible fires in the debris, field coordination in disasters by attendant team members, base camp setup, crisis center and incident scene management, victim relatives and mass communication, press conference and interview techniques.

Practical studies were carried out on search and rescue, health intervention and general operation procedures in 11 different debris. The exercise was completed after the national and international operations team members and team leaders evaluation meetings.