Fire Fighter Safety Flashcards
The harness of the SCBA, which supports the components worn by a fire fighter
Backpack
A system in which two fire fighters always work as a team for safety purposes.
Buddy System
A protective coat worn by a fire fighter for interior structural firefighting, also called a turnout coat.
Bunker Coat
A toxic gas produced through incomplete combustion
Carbon monoxide (CO)
An apparatus consisting of multiple tanks that is used to store compressed air and fill SCBA cylinders.
Cascade System
SCBA designed to recycle the user’s exhaled air. This system removes carbon dioxide and generates fresh oxygen.
Closed-Circuit Breathing Apparatus
A mechanical deice that increases the pressure and decreases the volume of atmospheric air; it is used to refill SCBA cylinders.
Compressor
A confidential group discussion among those who served at a traumatic incident to address emotional, psychological, and stressful issues related to the event. It usually occurs within 24hrs to 72hrs of the incident.
Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD)
To take off an item of clothing or equipment
Doff
To put on an item of clothing or equipment
Don
Programs offered by many departments that allow fire fighters to receive confidential help with problems such as substance abuse, stress, depression, or burnout that can affect their work performance.
Employee assistance programs (EAP’s)
An operating mode that allows some SCBA to be used even if part of the regulator fails to function properly.
Emergency bypass mode
A component of SCBA that fits over the face.
Face piece
Protective head covering worn by firefighters to protect the head from falling objects, blume trauma, and heat.
Fire Helmet
The dangerous practice of acting independently of command instructions.
Freelancing
A small, portable light carried by fire fighters to improve visibility at emergency scenes; it is often powered by rechargeable batteries.
Hand Light
A toxic gas produced by the combustion of materials containing cyanide.
Hydrogen cyanide
Periodic certification testing performed on pressurized vessels, including SCBA cylinders.
Hydrostatic testing
A situation in which an atmospheric concentration of any toxic, corrosive, or asphyxiant substance poses an immediate threat to life or could cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects.
IDLH - Immediately dangerous to life and health
There are three general classifications of IDLH atmospheres:
Toxic, Flammable, and Oxygen-deficient.
A burning process in which the fuel is not completely consumed, usually due to a limited supply of oxygen.
Incomplete combustion
A strong synthetic material used in the construction of protective clothing and equipment.
Kevlar
An electronic semiconductor that emits a single-color light when activated.
Light-emitting diode - LED
U.S. federal agency responsible for research and development on occupational safety and health issues.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - NIOSH
A fire - resistant synthetic material used in the construction of personal protective equipment for fire fighting.
Nomex
An insert inside the face piece of an SCBA that fits over the user’s mouth and nose.
Nose cups
The federal agency that regulates worker safety and, in some cases, responder safety.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration - OSHA
OSHA is part of the U.S. Department of Labor
SCBA in which the exhaled air is released into the atmosphere and is not reused.
Open-circuit breathing apparatus
Any atmosphere where the oxygen level is less than 19.5%. Low oxygen levels can have serious effects on people, including adverse reactions such as poor judgement and lack of muscle control.
Oxygen deficiency
A fire-retardant synthetic material used in the construction of personal protective equipment.
PBI
A method of tracking the identities, assignments, and locations of fire fighters operating at an incident scene.
Personnel accountability system
A device worn by a fire fighter that sounds an alarm if the fire fighter is motionless for a period of time.
Personal alert safety system - PASS
Gear worn by fire fighters that includes the helmet, gloves, hood, coat, pants, SCBA, and boots.
Personal protective equipment - PPE
PPE provides a thermal barrier that protects fire fighters against intense heat.
A chemical agent that causes severe pulmonary damage; it is a by product of incomplete combustion.
Phosgene
The standard unit for measuring pressure.
Pounds per-square inch - PSI
A device that measures and displays pressure readings. In an SCBA, the pressure gauges indicate the quantity of breathing air that is available at any time.
Pressure gauge
A part of a fire fighter’s PPE that is designed to be worn over the head and under the helmet, it provides thermal protection for the neck and ears.
Protective hood
A minimum of two fully equipped personnel who are on site in a ready state, for immediate rescue of injured or trapped fire fighters.
Rapid Intervention company / crew - RIC
Also known as Rapid Intervention Team
A systematic process to provide periods of rest and recovery for emergency workers during an incident.
Rehabilitation
Rehab is usually conducted in a designated area away from the hazardous area.
A protective device used to provide safe breathing air for a user in a hostile or dangerous atmosphere.
Respirator
The part of the SCBA that allows fire fighters to wear it as a “Backpack”.
SCBA Harness
The part of the SCBA that reduces the high pressure in the cylinder to a usable lower pressure and controls the flow of air to the user.
SCBA regulator
Respirator with independent air supply used by fire fighters to enter toxic or otherwise dangerous atmospheres.
Self-contained breathing apparatus - SCBA
A respirator with an independent air supply that is used by underwater divers.
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus - SCUBA
Airborne solid materials consisting of ash and unburned or partially burned fuel released by a fire.
Smoke Particles
A respirator that obtains its air through a hose from a remote source, such as a compressor or storage cylinder.
Supplied air respirator (SAR)
Protective coat that is part of a protective clothing ensemble for structural firefighting, also called a bunker coat.
Turnout coat
Protective trousers that are part of a protective clothing ensemble for structural firefighting, also called bunker pants.
Turnout pants
A portable communication device used by fire fighters.
Two-way Radio
Every firefighting team should carry at least one radio to communicate distress, progress, changes in fire conditions, and other pertinent information.
Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training
NFPA 1404
Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health
NFPA 1500
Standard on Comprehensive Operational Medical Program for Fire Departments
NFPA 1582
Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting
NFPA 1971
Standard on Station / Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services
NFPA 1975
Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting
NFPA 1977
Standard on Open-Circuit Self_Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services
NFPA 1981
Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)
NFPA 1982
The NFPA standard that requires fire fighters to Don PPE in under 1 minute.
NFPA 1001
6 Steps in order for Donning PPE
1) Place your protective hood over your dead and down around your neck.
2) Put on your boots and pull up your bunker pants. Place the suspenders over your shoulders and secure the front of the pants.
3) Put on your turnout coat and close the front.
4) Put your helmet on and secure the chin strap. Turn up your collar and secure.
5) Put on your gloves.
6) have your partner check your clothing.
