Abstract
Multidisciplinary US&R (Urban Search and Rescue) operations including medical care are needed to save lives of victims trapped under rubble in structural collapse disasters. In Japan, to improve response capabilities against such disasters, the leading response directors started challenges at their first comprehensive training facility for US&R. The authors collaborated with their actions, and in one of the US&R trainings, the authors applied an acoustic simulation during a full field exercise to provide a noisy environment simulating those of actual US&R operation site. The result of questionnaires to trainees and instructors shows that the acoustic simulation contributed to make the training be more effective, and it has remarkable effects especially for the aim of the training to examine the suitable protocol for Japan to establish command and control, safety, and communications during US&R operations.
