BA Emergency Procedures Flashcards
What are the 4 emergency procedures available to crews?
The emergency procedures available to BA teams committed to an incident are:
• To sound Bodyguard distress signal unit (DSU).
• To go into entrapped procedure.
• To mutually exchange air with another BA wearer.
• To call for assistance by radio.
When must a DSU be operated by BA crews?
A DSU must be operated immediately by a BA team member if they:
• Become lost or confused.
• Are injured and in difficulty.
• Have problems with their BA set.
• Become distressed and/or disorientated.
When a DSU is heard what must crews consider before helping?
• Having sufficient reserves of air to enable effective assistance to be given.
• Maintaining safe egress.
• Whether the BA team is already carrying out a rescue.
• BA team hearing an ADSU/DSU should advise the ECO/communications operative and should keep them informed of their actions.
What is entrapment procedure and what actions should be taken?
When a BA team become aware that they cannot withdraw from the scene of operations they should take the following actions:
• Inform the ECO/communications operative.
• Operate one DSU (ECO should also be alerted to this by the ECB).
• Relax as much as possible in the circumstances by assuming a reclined or seated posture, preferably against a wall for support and on the emergency team’s likely route.
• Maintain physical contact with the other team members.
• Keep speech and movement to a minimum.
• Do not use the additional flow button.
• Do not adjust the cylinder valve.
• Keep all personal lamps switched on.
Explain the exchange of air process?
The emergency exchange of air:
• The BA wearer requiring air (the recipient) gains the attention of another team member (the donor) and shows their Bodyguard stating – ‘I need air’.
• The message is confirmed by the donor who checks that they have suf cient air to assist and replies – ‘I can give you air’.
• The donor removes the protective blank cap from their second person connection. Note: It can assist the recipient if the donor retains hold of the second person connection hose to aid connection.
• The recipient then takes a deep breath and, whilst holding their breath, disconnects their facemask from the air supply hose, using the ‘in line’ connection, and connects it to a second person connection of the donor. Normal breathing is then resumed.
• Recipient removes the second person connection hose from the clips of the donor’s BA set. The donor can assist if required.
• The recipient then links arms with the donor to prevent excessive strain being placed on supply hoses and connections.
• Donor contacts the ECO with following information:
a. their location;
b. whether or not they are adopting entrapped procedure; or
c. whether or not they are coming out.
• The recipient then activates their DSU.
• Subject to sufficient air being available the team leaves the incident and reports to the ECO. If the air supply is insufficient, the BA team adopt entrapped procedure.
• If at any time the recipient cannot carry out any of the above actions, the donor must carry out the recipient’s tasks on their behalf.
What is the process for cable entanglement?
Procedure if a BA team member becomes entangled and is unable to free themselves:
• Inform all other BA team members and remain as still as possible to prevent further entanglement.
• The entangled BA team member must clearly state: “I am entangled in cables”.
Note: If any BA team member is in distress as a result of cable entanglement the DSU must be operated immediately.
Any BA team member being informed that another BA team member is entangled in cables must:
• Clearly state to the entangled BA team member: “Stay still and cross your arms at chest height” (crossing arms across chest protects BA set hoses).
• Approach entangled BA team member with caution using safe movement procedure.
• Locate cables by completing a head to toe sweep using the back of hands where possible.
• Where possible the rescuer should use their own cable cutters to cut cables if unable to remove cables by hand.
• Repeat above process until all cables are removed.
• Cable cutters are re-stowed. This can be carried out by other members of the BA team.
Note: Caution must be taken at all times to avoid cutting BA set hoses.
