The Buzz on Technical Rescue: Illinois MABAS for Technical Rescue Resources

Bob Duemmel talks with (mutual aid box alarm system) MABAS CEO Jay Reardon about Illinois' unique program to quickly mobilizes a wealth of technical rescue resources throughout the state and mutual aid region.

Jay shares MABAS' history, organizational statement and the various technical rescue resources available to any Illinois department. From water rescue and collapse to communications and air supply vehicles, MABAS' resources include: 297 heavy rescue squads, 42 hazmat teams, 26 underwater rescue/recovery teams, 41 technical rescue teams and the state-sponsored USAR team.

They discuss how incident command is established, units are deployed and how to assure that a specialized incident receives properly trained and equipped personnel for each discipline of rescue.