Guidelines Flashcards
What stage must BA entry control be before guideline operations can start?
Stage 2
What are the primary uses of guidelines?
- To allow a team of BA wearers in a risk area to retrace theirs steps back to the ECP
- To allow subsequent BA teams to readily locate a team of BA wearers
- To allow subsequent BA teams to locate the scene of operations
- To allow subsequent BA teams to enter and search large / complex structures
Guidelines can be divided into what two operational practices?
Laying
Following / searching
What are the ECO responsibilities regarding guidelines?
- record monitor and log guideline use, including identifying which guideline each team is laying, following or searching
- check to ensure directional indicators of all guidelines pay out correctly prior to BA wearers entering the risk area
- attach BA main and branch tallied to appropriate lines
- ensure that all deployed BA wearers are made aware of any guidelines laid behind them
How should BA guidelines be at stowed?
So that the running end pays out first
Main guidelines leading from the ECP should be designated what?
A or B
What is the length of the guideline?
60m
What is the length of the knotted tabs on the guideline
50mm
What is the length of the long thin tabs on the guideline?
125mm
What is the length of the gaps between tabs on the guideline?
150mm
What is the length of the gap between each set of tabs on the guideline?
2.5m
What knot is to be used to secure a main guideline to an immovable object near the ECP
Round turn, two half hitches
Which knot should ECO ensure is the first to appear out of the guideline bag?
50mm double knot
How many guideline routes are permitted per ECP?
2
What must happen if two guidelines converge?
One of the guidelines must be terminated and secured to a tie off point minimum distance 2m from where the lines would have met (if possible)
Is there limit to how many main guidelines can be tied together?
No but consideration must be given to how long BA wearers can work (especially if rescue is necessary)
What is the length of the personal line?
6m (1.25m to the knot)
When would branch guidelines be used?
When the distance of the search area is is greater than the 6m personal line
What knot is used when attaching a branch guide line tally?
Overhand knot, on the bite, approx 1m from the snap hook
Why must a branch guideline be tied off as soon as possible once attached to the main guide line?
To prevent the branch guideline from deflecting down the route of the main guideline
Can a branch guideline be extended?
Not normally but may be after a sufficient risk assessment
What must be done on re-joining a main guideline from a branch guideline?
BA team leader must check the first set of tabs to ensure they are travelling in the right direction and communicate this to the ECO
How is the guideline secured on the route?
Round turn and two half hitches on the bite
How is the guideline extended?
When the first line is fully run out attach the snap hook of the second line to the loop (at the end) of the first guideline
What procedure must be adopted when laying a guideline and encountering a room known to be small?
When searching rooms (including behind doors) the guide line should be gathered up and taken out of the room
If a BA team leader laying a guide line has to withdraw before the objective is reached, what must be done?
The team leader must ensure they’re clipped onto a secured section (between the last two tie off points) of the guideline by their personal line before release in the guideline container
What should BA teams do when encountering a closed door?
BA teams should not pass closed doors without first investigating around the door
BA guidelines are only to be used on who’s instruction?
IC
What tab should firefighters use to vacate the building?
50mm double knotted tab
When teams withdraw from the incident who takes precedence?
Outgoing teams as air / pressure will have been calculated
Who should ensure guidelines have been correctly stowed?
ECO
When would you use a branch guideline?
When a search is needed more than 6m from the main guideline
