Safe Movement and wearers guidance

Question 1

What are the principles of safe movement?

Answer 1

Make sure floor in front of you can take your weight.
Check for obstacles and obstructions before moving.
Always check above your head before standing up.
Maintain physical, visual or audible contact with all team members.
The BA teams operational risk assessment of the situation should determine the safest and quickest way to achieve the objectives.

Question 2

What precautions must be taken with stairs?

Answer 2

Alert the team - “STAIRS! STEP BACK”.
Keep loading on stairs as low as possible.
Only one firefighter at a time on stairs.
On exiting stairs, the next firefighter is called forward by a double hand clap (this is repeated by person receiving the signal).
Move on all fours.
One step at a time.
Only commit weight to next step once it has been swept and tested. Stay close to wall where staircase is strongest.

Question 3

What four pieces of information can be gained from a door?

Answer 3

Hinges indicate opening towards or away.
A vision panel can be checked.
Paint/PVC may be blistered or deformed.
Hazard warning signs indicate what is the other side.

Question 4

A DOOR SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF FIRE, HEAT OR SMOKE, MUST NOT BE OPENED without ?

Answer 4

Suitable extinguishing media

Question 5

What steps must be taken when opening a door?

Answer 5

Keep low and close together against the wall.
If door opens towards, it should be used as a shield.
If door opens away the team should keep close to wall next to door catch.
Note effect and conditions before fully opening.
Ensure door will not lock behind before moving past.
Make other teams aware working in the same area of the intention to open a door – “CREWS OPENING DOORS!”

Question 6

Name four observations of land marking BEFORE entering a building

Answer 6

Type and size of building or structure.
Position of the building in relation to its surroundings. Position of appliances outside the building.
LFB equipment committed to the building.

Question 7

Name five observations of land marking AFTER entering the building?

Answer 7

Which wall you are on: left or right.
Position of fixed features: doors, windows, stairs.
How many doors and compartments you pass through. Construction and texture of walls and floors.
Other features such as large or fixed furniture.

Question 8

What is the minimum requirement for BA crews?

Answer 8

Minimum of two firefighters, at least one with radio communications.

Question 9

What would be an exception for only using one BA wearer?

In

Answer 9

In open air.

In line of sight from the ECO.

Question 10

Exceptions where only one BA wearer can operate?

Answer 10

Car fires
Rubbish fires
Working on the head of a ladder

Question 11

What are the most important elements of wearing BA?

Answer 11

Adhere and comply with BA procedures. Communication.
Teamwork.
Check bodyguard readings regularly. Check telemetry signal regularly.

Understand that BA supplements Firefighting skills.
Effective briefing and debriefing.
Awareness of physiological effects of working in hot and humid atmospheres.

Question 12

What are a BA wearers duties at an incident?

Answer 12

Undertake an ‘A’ test when taking over a set or following a cylinder change (fire ground ‘A’ test). Don and start in safe air.
Ensure at least 240 bars when reporting to ECO.
Establish and confirm a call sign with ECO.
Hand their tally to the ECO on starting up.

Question 13

Define working duration?

Answer 13

The time between starting to breathe through the face mask and the operation of the low-pressure warning device.

Question 14

All wearers must Monitor air consumption by?

Answer 14

◦ Regularly check Bodyguard
◦ Monitor pressure remaining
◦ Return to entry control before low pressure warning whistle
◦ Liaise with ECO to ensure turnaround times time into account both live Telemetry and
manually calculated time of warning being used by ECO for return to ECO

Question 15

All wearers must Undertake working duration assessment by

Answer 15

◦ The air taken to reach the scene of operation
◦ Work rate at the scene of operations
◦ Conditions that reduce working duration and cause physical exhaustion
◦ The possibility that exits may have deteriorated
◦ Information from entry control and other teams
◦ Consumption rates on exit will be higher due to physical exertion or increase in
exertion

Question 16

What are the responsibilities of BA team leaders?

Answer 16

Ensure BA teams remain together.
Ensure BA team is fully briefed and debriefed.
Coordinate bodyguard and telemetry signals and ensure the team returns to ECP before low warning / whistle operates.
Communicate info on bodyguard via radio if loss of telemetry occurs.
Be aware of adverse and changing conditions.
Relay info on conditions, layout, hazards and team status to the ECO.
Decide whether to continue operations in event of lost comms, (knowing a team will be committed to investigate).
In the event of lost telemetry and comms, the team must withdraw.
Task rotation and air management.
On deciding to return to ECO, all team members must operate the withdraw button and this action confirmed by radio. Communicate accidental actuation of withdraw button to ECO. The team may then continue.

Question 17

When must a BA team leader withdraw the team and inform ECO?

Answer 17

Any team member has uncontrolled loss of air.
Low pressure warning device sounds.
Any team member seems unwell or confused.
Any team members bodyguard is faulty or unreadable. Any team members ADSU or DSU sounds.
Any team member exposed to irrespirable atmosphere due to dislodged or defective facemask. Complete loss of radio and telemetry simultaneously.
If the team cannot withdraw as a single unit they must immediately go into entrapped procedure.