Page 182 - PJ MED OPS Handbook 8th Ed

12. Recovery Operations

General

• Do not remove any medical interventions from the remains.
• Explain the situation openly to family or bystanders.

Aircraft Crash Response
• Ensure scenes are safe to enter. Aircraft metals have the capacity to burn for days at ex-
tremely hot temperatures.
○ Toxic gases are likely to be present – PAPRS masks are recommended.
○ Ammunition can cook off and fire randomly for hours after incident.
• If the operational environment allows, wait for mortuary affairs/medical examiner/safety in-
vestigation team to assess crash site prior to moving wreckage or removing remains.
○ The additional teams provide vital support for determining cause of death, cause of the
crash, preservation of remains. Distorting the crash site by any means impedes these vital
investigations.
○ If the operational environment does not allow additional teams to be present, ensure
plenty of video and pictures are taken prior to and during the distorting or removing any
wreckage or remains. Provide media to all investigative agencies.
• Seek additional manpower and equipment if available. Crash sites may be spread out over
miles (mid-air explosions) or confined to a few feet wide (high speed ground impact).
○ Be prepared to conduct methodical searches to identify remains. Maps, GPSs and com-
passes may be required for large search areas.
○ Remains and debris can regularly impact several feet into the ground. Digging equipment
may be necessary.
○ Recovery equipment may include:
n Body Bags
n Skedco
n Fire fighter gloves
n PAPRS mask
n High heat boots
n Fire extinguishers
n Large Sifters
n Shovels
n Small plastic bags
n Camera
• Remains may be easy to identify when fully intact or extremely difficult with only teeth or
hairs remaining.
○ Teeth will resist heat better than bones and may be the only remains left.
○ Bone fragments will appear white and with holes in them, similar to pumice.
○ Rings and personal effects may be found amongst the debris. Include with the remains in
a baggie if able.
○ Attempt to assess and separate remains that belong to different individuals.

180 n Pararescue Medical Operations Handbook / 8th Edition