Chapter 1: Intro To The Fire Service & Firefighter Safety Flashcards
Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)
An entity responsible for receiving 9-1-1 calls and processing those calls according to a specific operational policy.
What is the overall mission of the fire service?
To save live and to protect property and the environment from fires and hazardous situations.
How are fire departments organized?
Most common is Scalar, defined as having uninterrupted series of steps. Decisions and information are directed from the top (fire chief) to the organizational structure.
Fig 1.2
What specialized Jobs and divisions exist within the fire service?
- Fire apparatus operator/driver
- Hazardous Materials (Haz mat)
- Rescue Technician
- Airport Fire Fighter
- Wildland Fire Fighter
- Emergency Medical Services
What is a fire apparatus operator?
Personnel trained to drive fire truck to and from fires and other emergencies. They must be able to operate fire apparatus pumps and aerial devices, are responsible for servicing and maintenance.
What is a hazardous material technician?
Personnel certified to mitigate hazardous materials and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CRBNE) emergencies.
What is a rescue technician?
Personnel certified to perform rescues in special areas such as high-angle (rope), trench, structural collapse, confined space, vehicle and machinery, water, ice, and cave or mine rescues.
What is a airport fireman?
Firefighters specially trained in airport operations and ARFF.
What is a Wildland firefighter?
Personnel trained to extinguish fires in outdoor vegetation, including the wildland/urban interface.
What is emergency medical services personnel?
Personnel trained to the levels defined in the National EMS Scope of practice model.
What types of written regulations affect firefighters?
Policies and Procedures
What is a company officer?
Personnel who supervise a fire company in the station and at fires and other emergencies. They may also supervise a group of companies within their response area.
What are fire department incident safety officers?
Person who monitors operational safety at emergency incidents. This task may be assigned to any qualified fire officer during the incident.
What are fire department health and safety officers?
Person who monitors the department’s health and safety program.
What is a District/Battalion Chief?
Personnel who supervise a group of fire companies and stations. They may also manage units responsible for logistics, fire prevention, training, planning, or other functions.
What is an Assistant/Deputy chief?
Personnel who manage a variety of upper-level functions, such as emergency operations, administration, fire prevention, or training.
What is a Fire Marshall?
Personnel who manage the fire prevention, plans review, and investigation divisions. They may hold a chief officer rank.
What is a Fire chief?
Person responsible for all operations within the department.
How do fire departments interact with other organizations and agencies?
To work efficiently they need to know the types of services they provide.
What type of Service does EMS & Hospitals provide?
EMS provide complete medical services, or they may supplement the services provided by the fire department. Hospitals may provide direct assistance to units at a scene either by radio communication or dispatching a medical professional to the scene.
What type of service does Emergency/Disaster management provide?
These agencies manage emergency and disaster response by coordinating multi-agency activities.
What type of service does law enforcement provide?
They assist with incident scene security, traffic and crowd control, firefighter protection, fire investigation, and explosives disposal.
What service does utility companies and pubic works provide?
They assist in incidents by shutting off natural gas lines, electricity, or public water mains.
What service does the media provide?
They can alert the public of traffic events, evacuations, and fire department activities. They can also inform the public of fire and life initiatives.
What are the skills of a Firefighter 1?
- Establish work ares at emergency scene
- Force entry into structures
- Set up use of ground ladders
- Extinguish fires as part of a team
- Conduct search and rescue in a structure as part of a team
- Overhaul a fire scene and conserve property
- set up electrical lighting and equipment to illuminate a scene.
- Tie knots appropriate for hoisting tools
- connect pumpers to hydrants and perform hose lays for fire attack.
- Turn off building utilities
- Route emergency and nonemergency telephone calls.
- Communicate over department radios using appropriate procedures.
- clean, inspect, and maintain equipment.
- prepare apparatus hose for response
What is the role of a Firefighter 1?
Assist other team members in meeting the incident priorities for life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation.
What fire and life safety initiatives have been created to help reduce firefighter line of duty illnesses, injuries, and fatalities?
The 16 firefighter life safety initiatives created in 2004 by the National Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) also known as everyone goes home.
What are some requirements of NFPA 1500 that relate to firefighter safety and health?
- Use appropriate PPE
- Maintain situational awareness
- Be healthy and in good physical condition
- Adhere to all safety regulations
- Maintain PPE and training equipment
How do fire department programs help combat illness, injuries, and fatalities?
Wellness programs and initiatives required in NFPA 1500
What are the most common line of duty illnesses and injuries that affect firefighters?
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory disease
- Cancer
- Minor strains and sprains
How do physical fitness and healthy lifestyle practices affect firefighter performance and safety?
Physically fit firefighters are more productive and less likely to suffer injuries.
How do fire department member assistance programs benefit firefighters?
Offers easily accessible, confidential assistance with personal problems that can affect job performance.
What safety guidelines should be followed when riding in the fire apparatus?
- Always be seated and securely belted in before the apparatus moves.
- Always wear hearing protection or radio headsets
- Secure all loose tools and equipment
- Close cab doors securely
- On unenclosed apparatus, close safety gates or bars securely
What should firefighters do to ensure safety at a structural fire scene?
- Follow supervisors orders
- Follow department SOPs
- Wear appropriate PPE
- Work as a team
- Maintain communications with team members and command
- Do a risk/benefit analysis for every action
- Never operate without supervision
- Perform an initial assessment and maintain situational awareness.
What safety guidelines should be followed when deploying and using emergency scene lighting?
- Use two personnel to safely carry portable generators if needed
- Ensure portable generators are positioned downwind so exhaust fumes do not present an ignition or contamination hazard.
- Wear hearing protection when operating portable generators if needed
- Be aware that generator noise can make communications near these devices difficult.
- Always adjust lights to a height that allows light to be directed toward the scene, but not in the eyes of approaching drivers
- Remove damaged cords with faulty insulation or exposed wires from service.
- Do not immerse power cords and connections in water
- Never connect more lights than the power source can support
What types of personal accountability systems may be in use at an incident?
Passport System, SCBA tag system, and Computer based electronic accountability systems
What safety guidelines should be followed at highway/roadway incidents?
- Turn off all forward facing lights including headlights
- Minimize flashing lights on the vehicles sides and rear.
- Turn off lights that face approaching traffic, to avoid blinding or distracting drivers
- Look before you move
- keep an eye on moving traffic
- walk facing oncoming traffic
- follow department SOPs
Which fire service organizational principle refers to the formal line of authority, responsibility, and communication within an organization?
Chain of Command
Which type of fire department is continually staffed by full-time paid firefighters who typically live in the station?
Career
The basic unit of firefighting operations is called a
Company
What is the difference between the roles of Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2?
A firefighter 1 works under the direct supervision of a firefighter 2 or company officer
Why did the NFFA develop the 16 firefighter life safety initiatives in 2004?
Provide the fire service with a blueprint for making changes
Written regulations such as organization’s policies and procedures clarify expectations and _______ _________.
Delegate authority.