Fire Captain Robert Goldman Gets Yellow Fever Shot

Did you know that the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s CATF-2, Urban Search and Rescue Team, is one of only 2 teams nationwide that are part of OFDA- the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance? Twenty eight teams from across the country are certified to work domestically under FEMA, but when it comes to international search and rescue, the pool gets a lot smaller. This team is ready to be deployed at any moment when disasters strike like the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

Robert Goldman, a member of this elite team came into Passport Heath Los Angeles to get his yellow fever shot so he could be ready to go and help in Chile.

I asked him what a team needed to do to get OFDA certified.
The group INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) which is associated with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sends rescue team representatives from countries such as Japan, Finland, France, Germany and South America to rigorously test and evaluates the applying team. The LA County Fire Dept had to set up a mock disaster site and demonstrate how to perform various search and rescue missions such as breaching concrete, performing technical searches, and prove ability to fully mobilize with very short notice. Coordination, mobilization, and the logistics for such an endeavor are intense and complex. Once certified, the team must be re-evaluated every 2-4 years to keep their status.

The first people sent out when a disaster occurs are on what’s called a DART team (Disaster Assessment Response Team). They go out and evaluate the situation and see what is needed. They then use satellite phones to call back to offices in Washington DC and alert the teams worldwide. For example: a certain village may need water purification systems and generators. Another may need sleeping bags and tents.
The LACFD has approx. 3200 members and of that only 160 members have gone through the training needed to be members of this international team. A “heavy” team sent out would be made up of 72 members who also include 4 dogs and their handlers. These special dogs are trained to find people that are still alive in disaster areas. Half of the team members work 12 hour shifts alternating with the remaining members so they can be operational 24 hours a day for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
Along with personnel, over 150 thousand pounds of equipment must be brought as well including everything needed to sustain the team for 14 days and specialized search and rescue equipment.

Capt. Goldman has also participated in “Patriot Hook” which is run by the Department of Defense. This is basically setting up dry runs for transporting teams and equipment in different disaster situations such as swift water and hazmat rescues using various military aircraft.

Robert is now up to date on his immunizations so he is “Level A” deployable. His mission to Chile got postponed but he is “chomping at the bit” to be sent on the next one. “We all know bad things are going to happen,” Goldman said, “I just want to be on duty when they do.” Passport Health will vaccinate the rest of the team to get them ready. We can all rest easier knowing these teams are out there and ready to help worldwide!