Ch 16. Fighting Fires in Nursing Homes

Question 1

Year after year, some of the highest-cost fires in terms of loss-of-life occur in _____. (239)

Answer 1

nursing homes

Question 2

Up until a few years ago, _____ and _____ were key problems in nursing homes. (239)

Answer 2

construction and maintenance

Question 3

All nursing homes must now be equipped with properly functioning _____, and the must also be _____ on a regular basis. (239)

Answer 3

automatic sprinklers; inspected by fire prevention professionals

Question 4

Far and away, the biggest problem associated with [nursing homes] is _____. (239)

Answer 4

life safety

Question 5

The skeleton crews that run [nursing homes] nowadays will probably best be able to serve you by providing _____. (239)

Answer 5

an accurate accounting of who’s still inside

Question 6

What are the 4 construction styles prevalent throughout [the nursing home] industry? (239)

Answer 6

1) the one- and two- story wing-style
2) the converted structures
3) the low-rise nursing homes
4) high rise nursing homes

Question 7

Low-rise nursing homes are similar to _____ in structure but not layout. (242)

Answer 7

garden apartments

Question 8

High-rise nursing homes tend to be very _____ and can produce hot fires. (243)

Answer 8

compartmentalized

Question 9

Regardless of the type of construction, the key concern [at any nursing home] is any given buildings ability to _____. (243)

Answer 9

spread or contain fire by any means

Question 10

In any building with a wing design, fire may travel along a given wing and should be stopped before _____. (243)

Answer 10

it reaches the hub of the building

Question 11

With a fire in a wing of a nursing home, initial lines should be taken in to get a nozzle _____. (243)

Answer 11

between the most savable victims

Question 12

New low- and high-rise nursing homes are very effective in retarding the passage of fire. __3__ can help hold flames to their area of origin. (244)

Answer 12

1) Built-in fire doors
2) Fire resistive members
3) Compartmentalization

Question 13

[At new low- and high-rise nursing homes], __2___ present the main avenues for extension. (244)

Answer 13

1) Interior vents

2) Duct systems

Question 14

[A converted nursing home] houses far fewer residents than other styles of nursing homes. There will likely be fewer than _____ residents. (244)

Answer 14

30

Question 15

Assessing __4__ will reveal the true potential of an incident. (245)

Answer 15

1) the structure
2) the size of the fire
3) the number of residents
4) the capability of your own department

Question 16

_____ can be an effective tool to quickly vent a nursing home after the fire has been knocked down and an exit area provided. (245)

Answer 16

PPV

Question 17

[nursing home fires] Although feared by many firefighters, _____ provide a good, safe platform from which to wage the battle. (245)

Answer 17

High-rises

Question 18

Given the life hazard [a a nursing home fire], the IC’s primary concern is _____. (246)

Answer 18

manpower

Question 19

What are the four principal tasks at a nursing home fire? (246)

Answer 19

1) put out the fire
2) ventilate
3) search
4) remove the residents

Question 20

To be effective, search operations will require a minimum of _____ members in a small environment. A large-scale nursing home will require far too many firefighters to count. (246)

Answer 20

a dozen

Question 21

What is the 15 minute rule at nursing home fires? (246)

Answer 21

If you cant bring a victim out of an IDLH environment in 15 minutes, you may as well start body recovery shortly after.
Stated another way, There’s no need to have rescue crews if they won’t be able to bring anyone out within 15 minutes. And the coroner will want to take pictures later.

Question 22

If you intend to perform rescue [at a nursing home fire], you’ll need a minimum of _____ per crew. (246)

Answer 22

2 members

Question 23

A rough rule of thumb [for rescues at a nursing home fire] is _____ per _____ per _____. (246)

Answer 23

one rescue group per victim per every 2-5 minutes

Question 24

Ventilation [at a nursing home fire] will take anywhere from _____ for PPV, up to _____ for roof cutting. (246)

Answer 24

2 members; 12

Question 25

Fire attack [at a nursing home fire] will require a minimum of _____ crews, each consisting of _____ firefighters at a minimum. (246)

Answer 25

2; 3

Question 26

If you can't bring enough members (26) to the "dance" [nursing home fire], then plan B may be in order. ______. Take everything you have, put the fire out, then vent. (247)

Answer 26

Defend in place

Question 27

If searches are to be conducted [at a nursing home fire], the _____ method will work well. (247)

Answer 27

oriented man

Question 28

A single oriented man can manage _______ [at a nursing home fire].

Answer 28

3-4 searchers

Question 29

Most [nursing home] buildings are relatively easy to search because _____. (247)

Answer 29

the living quarters are usually right off the hallway

Question 30

[at a nursing home fire] the attack should commence from a point where you can get a line between _____ as quickly as possible. (247)

Answer 30

the majority of the residents and the fire

Question 31

In a converted [nursing home] structure, _____ normally provide the best route upward. (247)

Answer 31

the central stairs

Question 32

Fires is low- and high-rise [nursing home] buildings are generally fought using _____ and ____; otherwise ____. (247)

Answer 32

stairways and standpipes; fire towers

Question 33

When it come to ventilation, remember that we open up buildings for 3 reasons: (247)

Answer 33

1) to reduce the effects of contaminants on civilians 2) to reduce smoke damage 3) to make our jobs easier

Question 34

The most effective way to get rid of smoke is to _____. (247)

Answer 34

open up the roof

Question 35

The best place for a vent hole is _____ (247)

Answer 35

in the fire room itself

Question 36

3 Ventilation options best to worst at nursing home fire (247)

Answer 36

1) open roof 2) open window in fire room 3) open door at the end of the hall way

Question 37

Traditional ventilation using ____ or ____ works well at high- and low-rise nursing homes. (247)

Answer 37

fire towers or stairways

Question 38

As the air and smoke rises in the tower and pst the fire floor, it will draw smoke from down the hall by means of _____. (247)

Answer 38

the venturi effect

Question 39

converted [nursing home] structures should be vented according to _____. (249)

Answer 39

according to the type of structure on which it is based

Question 40

The stumbling block with respect to backup [at a nursing home fire] is the _____ issue balanced against the _____. (249)

Answer 40

life safety; available manpower

Question 41

If staffing is low [at a nursing home fire], all forces on the first alarm must be committed to _____. (249)

Answer 41

locating and extinguishing all visible fire

Question 42

after the fire [at a nursing home] has been extinguished, what must be done next? (249)

Answer 42

the products of combustion must be eliminated from the interior

Question 43

Managing minimal resources to the best effect requires tough decision at times, but it is the ability to do so that defines _____. (249)

Answer 43

a true leader

Question 44

Since risks of our industry are so high, it is vital that you _____ during the pre-incident phases. (249)

Answer 44

honestly account for your capabilities, as well as your departments

Question 45

Fight your fires under _____ so that, when the worst happens, you'll already have half the battle won. (249)

Answer 45

the expected conditions

Question 46

The fundamental reason for using a defend in place strategy in a nursing home is _____. (249)

Answer 46

a lack of manpower

Question 47

Normally when staffing is at a shortfall, we tend to _____. (249)

Answer 47

put others above ourselves.

Question 48

This may be the one time that the author would advocate using a smaller 1 3/4 line for backup rather than the 2 1/2 line that I ordinarily recommend for commercial occupancies. (249)

Answer 48

Nursing home fires

Question 49

Nursing homes have an abundance of _____, meaning more avenues of egress for firefighters. (249)

Answer 49

windows

Question 50

If you need to take out windows, _____. Leave no wood, glass, or metal standing. (249-250)

Answer 50

take them in full

Question 51

During the walkaround [at nursing homes], look for ____ and study _____. (250)

Answer 51

the easiest ways in and out; the configuration of the windows

Question 52

Try to get _____ stationed near the command post to monitor the accountability board. (250)

Answer 52

a RIT member

Question 53

Who is an appropriate "competent party" to account for evacuees? (250)

Answer 53

A firefighter, since he will signify authority at a fire scene.

Question 54

Far and away the biggest problem associated with nursing home fires is _____. (257 & 311)

Answer 54

Life safety

Question 55

It would be expected that old, converted. nursing homes are fully sprinkled. True of false? (257 & 311)

Answer 55

False

Question 56

Given the potential for a large life hazard at nursing home fires, what is the IC's primary concern? (257 & 311)

Answer 56

Manpower

Question 57

The rule of thumb for the number of rescue groups is _____. (257 & 311)

Answer 57

1 rescue group per victim per every 2-5 minutes

Question 58

Backup might be ruled out due to staffing concerns in a nursing home fire. True or false? (257 & 311)

Answer 58

True

Question 59

RIT may not initially be possible due to staffing concerns in a nursing home fire. True or false? (257 & 311)

Answer 59

True

Question 60

The fundamental reason for a defend-in-place strategy at a nursing home fire is _____. (257 & 311)

Answer 60

Lack of manpower

Question 61

RIT will generally enter a building _____. (257 & 311)

Answer 61

Following the attack line in

Question 62

Why does the RIT generally follow the attack line into a nursing home fire? (257 & 311)

Answer 62

Get a line between RIT and the fire