BA / Search and Rescue

Question 1

What’s the length of BA main guideline?

Answer 1

60m

Question 2

How is a guideline labelled if more than 1 is being used?

Answer 2

A and B

Question 3

What’s the length of a personal line?

Answer 3

6m

Question 4

What is the minimum re-entry pressure?

Answer 4

9L cylinder 150 bar

Question 5

What is the minimum working pressure?

Answer 5

9L cylinder 270 bar

Question 6

How to clean a dirty LDV

Answer 6

Press the supplementary air supply to clear any water that may be inside the LDV. Then turn off the cylinder valve.

Question 7

When to set up stage 2 BA control

Answer 7

1. three or more entry points are established
2. six or more teams of BA wearers are working at one time
3. the OIC Fire considers it necessary (e.g. when BA operations are likely to be protracted)
4. BA guidelines are likely to be used

Question 8

Actions to be carried out when BA teams are evacuated

Answer 8

1. Sound all appliance sirens continuously
2. Announce over all sector IGC radio channels
3. Activate the all evacuate signal on the Merlin ECB
4. All teams will exit the incident via the nearest exit point immediately and report to the ECO who holds theie tallies
5. The evacuation signal may only cease on the order of the OIC Fire
6. ECOs are to account for all BA team personnel

Question 9

Actions to be carried out for the impounding procedure

Answer 9

1. Assess any injuries and treat accordingly
2. Notify the OIC, trainer or safety officer
3. Do not tamper with the set in any way, impound as soon as possible
4. Place defect label on the set and seal it in a bag or container and send to BA hub
5. OIC/ trainer has the responsibility to ensure BA set impounding form is filled out
6. Report to be completed and sent to BA hub and area manager ASAP
7. Report all occurrences of equipment failure including near misses and complete reports

Question 10

When to carry out the impounding procedure

Answer 10

1. When there is a sudden failure of air supply to the wearer
2. When there is a component, fitting or connection failure on the set that affects the air supply
3. When a injury occurs where the BA set may have been a contributing factor

Question 11

Who gives the order to cease wearing BA

Answer 11

OIC

Question 12

What is the ECO at ECP responsible for

Answer 12

1. Site and setup ECO
2. Wear ECO jerkin
3. Collect tallies, Wright the time in and place in board
4. Ensure the PPE of BA wearers are correct
5. Monitor radio
6. Ensure wearers have been tasked and know their location of work
7. Bracket BA team
8. Record and calculate

Question 13

When should an ECO be appointed

Answer 13

To be appointed at the earliest opportunity, driver of the second truck

Question 14

What is the purpose of a primary search

Answer 14

• A Primary Search is a rapid thorough methodical search of all the areas affected by fire
• The purpose of this search is to find and remove all occupants to safety

Question 15

Where would you begin a search if you have been tasked with a primary search

Answer 15

Start at the place of least survivability e.g. start from the fire and work back

Question 16

BA wearer responsibilities

Answer 16

1. Complete information on the BA tally
2. Don and start the BA set correctly.
3. Ensure the IGC radio is operating
4. Hand in the tally to the ECO, provide task details or receive instructions, and gain clearance to proceed.
5. Exiting BA teams must immediately report to the ECP to collect their own tallies. Then convey relevant information to the IC or Sector Commander (if appointed) and receive further tasking.

Question 17

Sudden air loss procedure

Answer 17

check that the cylinder valve is
turned on.

If the cylinder valve is on, then:

1. Operate the supplementary supply valve
2. Inform your BA team and if possible declare a “Mayday”
3. Operate the DSU
4. Exit to the ECP

Question 18

The entrapment procedure

Answer 18

• Declare mayday
• Attempt to rectify the situation
• Remain calm
• Use delivery to provide protection if available
• Select safe place if possible to relax, close to main guideline or hose
• By remaining calm you can reduce air consumption

Question 19

Mayday must be used when

Answer 19

• when lost, trapped or in trouble.

Situations such as:
- entrapped - unable to self-extricate immediately
- fall through structural elements
- change in fire conditions that may threaten firefighters ability to exit safely
- unable to find an exit, or exit/escape routes are blocked
- low air warning, difficulty exiting

Question 20

Additional weekly BA checks

Answer 20

• Check all spare BA cylinders on the appliance for their content and test date
• Check the entry control pouch and that is has a chinagraph pencil, cleaning cloth, sharpener and eco jerkin
• Check the ECB is clean and that the clock is working

Question 21

Purpose of taking hose during search and rescue

Answer 21

• protection for firefighters and any casualties located.
• a tool which may assist firefighters in reducing the risk of imminent fire behaviour such as flashover or backdraught.
  a means of identifying and protecting an escape route.
• means of conducting initial fire knockdown and suppression

Question 22

Where to site an ECP

Answer 22

Next to the incident entry point, away from noise and fumes

Question 23

What is the purpose of an ECP?

Answer 23

Monitor safety of BA wearers, control access