Chapter 10: Scene Lighting, Tools, Extrication, and Tech Rescue Flashcards
Arc
High-temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or though a medium such as charred insulation.
B-Post
Post between the front and rear doors on a four-door vehicle, or the door-handle-end post on a two-door car.
Case-Hardened Steel
Steel used in vehicle constructions whose exterior has been heat treated, making it much harder than the interior metal.
Cribbing
Wooden or plastic blocks used to stabilize a vehicle during vehicle extrication or debris following a structural collapse; typically 4 x 4 (100 mm) inches or larger and between 16 to 26 inches (400 mm to 650 mm) long.
Extrication
Incident in which a trapped victim must be removed from a vehicle or other type of machinery.
Generator
Portable device for generating auxiliary electrical power; generators are powered by gasoline or diesel engines and typically have 110- and/or 220-volt capacity outlets.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Device designed to protect against electrical shock; when grounding occurs the device opens a circuit to shut off the flow of electricity. Also known as Ground Fault Indicator (GFI) Receptacle.
Ground Gradient
Electrical field that radiates outward from where the current enters the ground; its intensity dissipates rapidly as distance increases from the point of entry.
Hypothermia
Abnormally low body temperature.
Intrinsically Safe
Describes equipment that is approved for use in flammable atmospheres; must be incapable of releasing enough electrical energy to ignite the flammable atmosphere.
Inverter
Step-up transformer that converts a vehicle’s 12- or 24-volt DC current into 110- or 220-volt AC current.
Lockout/Tagout Device
Device used to secure a machine’s power switches in order to prevent accidental re-start of the machine.
Low-Head Dam
Wall-like concrete structure across a river or stream that is designed to back up water; allows water to flow over the crest and drop into a lower level. Also known as Low-Water Dam.
Nader Pin
Bolt on a vehicle’s door frame that the door latches onto in order to close.
Power Take-Off (PTO) System
Mechanism that allows a vehicle engine to power equipment such as a pump, winch, or portable tool; it is typically attached to the transmission.
Pretensioner
Device that takes up slack in a seat belt; prevents the passenger from being thrown forward in the event of a crash.
Safety Glass
Two sheets of glass laminated to a sheet of plastic sandwiched between them; the plastic layer makes the glass stronger and more shatter resistant. Most commonly used in windshields and rear windows. Also known as Laminated Glass.
Secondary Collapse
Collapse that occurs after the initial collapse of a structure; common causes include aftershock (earthquake), weather conditions, and the movement of structural members.
Stabilization
Preventing unwanted movement; accomplished by supporting key places between an object and the ground (or other solid anchor points).
Tempered Glass
Treated glass that is stronger than plate glass or a single sheet of laminated glass; safer than regular glass because it crumbles into chunks when broken, instead of splintering into jagged shards. Most commonly used in a vehicle’s side and rear windows.
Unibody Construction
Method of automobile construction in which the frame and body form one integral unit; Also known as Bird Cage Construction, Integral Frame Construction, or Unitized Construction.
Wheel Chock
Block placed against the outer curve of a tire to prevent the apparatus from rolling; can be wooden, plastic, or metal. Also known as Wheel Block.
