Chapter 4: Tool and Equipment Flashcards
Light rescue vehicles are designed to handle ____
only basic extrication and life support functions.
Light rescue vehicles are built on a ____ or ____ chassis.
1-ton or 1 1/2-ton
Medium rescue vehicles are capable of handling
the majority of vehicle rescue incidents
Equipment usually carried by Medium Rescue Vehicles:
- Basic hand tools
- Hydraulic spreaders and cutters
- Pneumatic lifting bags
- Power saws
- Acetylene cutting equipment
- Ropes and rigging equipment
Heavy Rescue Vehicles must be capable of ____
providing the support necessary to extricate victims from almost any entrapment.
Equipment carried by heavy rescue units may include:
- A frames or gin poles
- Cascade systems
- Larger capacity generators
- Trenching and shoring equipment
- Small pumps and foam equipment
- Large winches
- Hydraulic booms
- Large quantities of rope and rigging equipment
- Air compressors
- Ladders
What are the two primary types of rescue vehicle chassis?
commercial and custom
____ are the most commonly used chassis for rescue vehicles. All light and medium chassis units and a large percentage of heavy rescue chassis units are ____.
- Commercial chassis
These are typically used for commercial vehicles such as plumbers trucks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, and delivery trucks.
Custom chassis are ____
built by manufacturers who specialize in fire apparatus.
Common special features incorporated into rescue vehicles.
- All wheel drive
- Rescue vehicle electrical equipment
- Vehicle mounted winches
- Gin poles and A frames
- Hydraulic cranes
- Stabilizers
- Air supply systems
Inverters
AKA alternators, used when large amounts of power are not necessary. They convert the vehicles DC electricity into AC. Inverters are fuel efficient and produce little or no noise during operation; however they have limited poser generating capacity and limited range from the vehicle.
What is the most common power source used on emergency vehicles.
Generators.
Vehicle mounted generators usually have a ____ capacity than portable units.
larger
Vehicle mounted generators can be powered in what ways?
- gasoline
- diesel
- Propane
- hydraulic
- power take off systems
Vehicle mounted generators known as power plants generally have ____ and ____ capabilities with capacities up to ____ and occasionally greater.
- 110 and 220 volt
* 50 kilowatts
Some dedicated lighting units have hydraulically operated booms with banks of lights and capacities ranging from ____ to ____ per light.
500 to 1500 watts
A winch is rated at its capacity when the ____ is still on the drum.
first layer of cable
Winch and cable strength are strongest ____. As more cable is wrapped around the drum and the cable becomes layered, the strength ____. As more cable is taken off the drum, the strength capacity ____. For safety reasons, ____ should not be removed from the drum.
- on the first wrap around the drum
- decreases
- increases
- the last layer of cable
Gin Pole
Vertical lifting device that may be attached to the front or the rear of the apparatus; consists of a single pole that is attached to the apparatus at one end and has a woking pulley at the other. Guy wires may also be used to stabilize the pole.
A-Frame
Vertical lifting device that can be attached to the front of rear of the apparatus; consists of two poles attached several feet apart on the apparatus and whose working ends are connected to form the letter A. A pulley or block and tackle through which a rope or cable is passed is attached to the end of the frame.
Hydraulic Cranes assist in ____, and have lifting capabilities of ____ or more.
- vehicle stabilization, removal of heavy vehicle components, and raising and lowering personnel and equipment.
- 18 tons
Stabilizers on rescue vehicles are used to ____
steady the vehicle when deploying a gin pole, A frame, or hydraulic crane.
Three common types of air supply systems on rescue vehicles:
- Cascade systems
- Breathing air compressors
- Non-breathing air compressors
Cascade Systems
Three of more large, interconnected air cylinders, from which smaller SCBA cylinders are recharged; the larger cylinders typically have a capacity of 300 cubic feet
When a rescue vehicle contains a breathing air compressor, be sure to position the apparatus ____
Upwind of any emergency scene.
Cribbing
Wooden or plastic blocks used to stabilize a vehicle during vehicle extrication or debris following a structural collapse; typically 4X4 inches or larger and between 16 to 26 inches long
The advantages and disadvantages of plastic cribbing.
- Advantages
- Plastic cribbing is twice as strong as wood, and is impervious to oil, gasoline, and other substances that can soak into and contaminate wood.
- Disadvantages
- Provides no warning prior to failure where wood will crack, it may be slippery when wet, and is more expensive and harder to replace than wood.
A ____ is the most common cribbing application in. vehicle extrication.
Box crib
There should be a minimum of ____ of overlap on all four corners of the box crib, and cribbing ends should ____.
- four inches
* extend beyond the sides touching the layer
The more members used to construct the individual layers of a box crib the more it will ____
strengthen the box crib and increase its load carrying capacity.
The maximum height of a box crib is ____
- three times the shortest width of the box crib.
* it is recommended to have maximum heights of four feet in 4x4 systems, and six feet in 6x6 systems.
Shims are the same shape as wedges but ____
may be cut from smaller stock. Wedges are usually 4x4x18-inch, or 2x4x12-inch
What is the difference between how wedges and shims are used?
- Wedges are inserted in pairs, with each wedge on opposite sides to tighten cribbing.
- Shims are inserted singularly to take up space between cribbing and the object being supported.
Wooden step chocks have a ____ inch base approximately ____ inches long. Aligned on the base are progressively shorter lengths of ____ inch lumber, and each step is approximately ____ inches shorter than the one beneath it.
- 2x6
- 30
- 2x6
- 6
Do not install step chocks ____
where they would interfere with the swing of the vehicle doors.
Eliminate any space between the highest step under the vehicle and the underside of the vehicle be setting a _____, or by _____.
- shim under the the step chock
* letting out the air of inflated tires in a controlled manner to load the step chocks.
Nylon rope is not ideal for vehicle stabilization because ____
it stretches under load
Use only ____ chains in vehicle extrication.
alloy steel
The best chain for rescue work is ____
Grade 80, AKA Grade 8 or Grade T. This chain is identified by an 8 or T embossed on the links at regular intervals.
The minimum chain size for extrication operations is ____
3/8 inch
All chains should have ____ that has the safe load weight stamped or printed on it.
an attached tag
Safety rules when using chains
- Do not drag a load with a chain under it
- Do not cross, knot, or hammer a chain into position
- Do not exceed the chain’s listed safe working load
- Do not use worn or damaged chains
- Do not impact load a chain
- Do not connect chain hooks to anything but the chain itself
- Do not weld links in alloy chain or other wise expose them to excessive heat
- Do not use appliances, such as hooks, pins, and links that are not of at least equal strength to the load being supported or controlled
- Do not use hooks and attachments that are not made of the same alloy material as the rest of the chain.
- Do not attempt to splice a chain by placing a bolt through two links
- Do not apply force to a kinked chain - make sure that all of the links are straight.
- Do not side load any of the chain attachments or components.
While using hooks, orient the opening, or eye, ____. If the hook fails and elongates, the hook will ____.
- towards the rescuer
* fail away from the rescuer.
With few exceptions, chains and webbing of the appropriate size and strength may be used ____
interchangeably
What are the two main webbing construction types?
Flat and tubular
Tubular webbing is woven in one of two ways, ____ and ____. Generally, the ____ weave is stronger and more resistant to abrasion.
- spiral and chain
* spiral
The appropriate size of webbing varies with the intended use, but most webbing used for lifting and pulling operations starts at ____.
about 2 inches in width
Webbing is susceptible to damage from ____, ____, and ____.
- ultraviolet light, abrasions, and chemical degradation.
Ratchet straps are most often used for ____, ____, and ____ in stabilization operations.
- marrying a vehicle to an object or other vehicle
- capturing a vehicles suspension
- to secure most rescue strut systems to vehicles.
Prying tools are safer than striking tools because of ____
the absence of ballistic movement
What are the distinct groups of manual cutting tools?
- Chopping tools
- Snipping tools
- Hand saws
- Knives
Guidelines to ensure maximum cutting efficiency of chopping tools.
- Keep the cutting edge free of paint and covered with a thin coating of light grade machine oil
- Keep the blade sharp, but not so sharp the the cutting edge chips when the tool is used
- Check tool handles regularly for looseness, cracks, splinters, or warping.