BOOK 37 Flashcards
What is a hazardous material?
Any substance or material capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety and property
What are some factors that will determine if a material may be considered hazardous?
- Quantity
- Concentration
- Physical or chemical characteristics
When does a hazardous material become a hazardous waste?
When it can no longer be used for the purpose it was originally intended for
The Department’s overall responsibility at hazardous materials incidents is described in three main areas:
1) Assessment of the incident
2) Notification of the proper agencies
3) Emergency measures to minimize the effect of the hazardous condition on people, the environment and property
The first responder who recognizes a hazardous material incident or incident involving weapons of mass destruction shall establish an _____________ surrounding the incident.
Initial isolation zone
What is the Incident Commander’s responsibility at a Hazardous Materials incident?
- Secure the scene
- Identify the material
- Quantity of material
- Threat of contamination, exposure and contaminated individuals
- Prevent the spread of contaminants
- Request appropriate Department resources and allied agencies to assist with the mitigation of the incident
What tasks may Hazardous Material Task Forces perform at a hazardous materials incident at the direction of the IC?
- Identification of the substance
- Hazard assessment
- Entry into the hazardous environment
- Containment of the hazard
- Decontamination procedures
What is the Fire Department’s main responsibility at a hazardous materials incident?
- Assessing the hazard
- Notifying the proper agency
- Providing necessary interim measures to minimize the impact of a hazardous condition on people and the environment
What does an LAFD assignment for a confirmed hazardous materials incident include?
- (1) BC
- (1) HazMat TF (includes Squad)
- (1) EMS Captain
- (1) Paramedic RA
- (1) Paramedic Engine
Once the first responder has arrived on scene, what should one of the initial considerations be?
To establish perimeters for the incident
The Initial Isolation Zone should be established using the recommendation of what?
The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
What will dictate the location of the Initial Isolation Zone?
Topography
What will dictate the size of the Initial Isolation Zone?
The physical and chemical properties of the material released
The first responder should use the initial isolation distance recommended in the ERG as the ________ for establishing the isolation area.
Minimum. Upon arrival, the Hazardous Materials Task Force may either expand or reduce the Initial Isolation Zone to establish the Exclusion Zone
What is the basic rule of an approach to a hazardous materials response incident?
Approach incident from upwind, uphill and upstream
What is the single most important action associated with effective decontamination?
Rapid removal of the contaminant from the victim using water streams
What is Emergency Decontamination (also referred to as Gross Decon)?
The initial decontamination intended to rapidly remove as much contamination as possible. This process can be initiated by directing victims to remove their clothing down to their undergarments, and showering the victims utilizing the most expeditious process available
What is Mass Decontamination?
Is the expansion of the Emergency Decontamination process to accommodate large numbers of contaminated people. Mass Decontamination is indicated when there are too many victims to be handled by a standard HazMat incident assignment
What is Secondary Decontamination?
Follows Emergency Decontamination, is a process that includes scrubbing with soap or other solution and thorough rinsing
What is Technical Decontamination?
Is the deliberate and precise cleansing using pools, special solutions, monitoring methods, and specially trained personnel. Technical Decontamination is intended for all emergency responders and is ideally performed in a separate area, away from the incident victims.
What is Respiratory Decontamination?
Involves moving the victim from the hazardous atmosphere, and may involve oxygen therapy
What is the best PPE for first responders engaged in Decontamination?
The Level B ensemble which is provided for every position on each fire suppression company and rescue ambulance
During decontamination, showering time will be incident-specific, but should be between ___ and ___ minutes per person
1 and 3 minutes per person
Under ideal conditions, decontamination operations will meet what 5 criteria?
1) First responders will be upwind of the release
2) Runoff will not flow through operational zones
3) Patients will have the least distance to travel
4) Emergency vehicles will have sufficient access
5) Adjacent space will be available for treatment areas