Section 24 - Hazmat Flashcards
Adiabatic Compression
flammable mixture which if compressed rapidly with ignite - diesel engine
Amphorous
shapeless arrangement of atoms - coal = amphorus carbon diamond is amphorous crystal
Anhydrous
having no water
Asphyxiant
- Atmospheric Asphyxiant
- Blood Asphyxiant
- Tissue Asphyxiant
Substance that cause a lack of oxygen
Atmospheric - reduce the available oxygen in the atmosphere
Blood - interfere with transmission of oxygen in the blood
Tissue - interfere with the pickup of oxygen by the cells (Cyanide)
Boilover
when water is trapped beneath the surface of some combustible liquids
Carcinogen
contributes to the growth of cancerous cells within the body
Carbonaceous
compounds that contain carbon
Catalyst
speeds up or triggers a chemical reaction - but takes no part in that reaction
Critical Temperature
temp above which it cannot be liquefied by pressure alone.
Cryogenics
substances stored and used at temps below -101c(150f)
Decomposition
breaking apart of a molecule - produces nitrates, acetylene and heat
Deliquescence
substances absorb moisture from nearby materials or from the air
Detonation
a wave that passes along the body of an explosive, instantaneous converting the explosive to a gas.
Diffusion Rate
the speed which a gas rises or otherwise dissipates
Endothermic
chemical reaction that absorbs heat
Etiological Agents
substances containing disease producing microorganisms
Exothermic
chemical reaction which releases heat
Explosion
violent energy release - difference between fire and explosion is the rate of energy released
6 types of explosion
1-nuclear fission 2-nuclear fusion 3-pressure relief 4-instantaneous oxidation 5-runaway polymerization 6-uncontrolled decomposition
Fissile
a radioactive substance capable of nuclear fission
Flammable solid
solid liable to cause fires through friction, absorption of moisture, spontaneous chemical changes, retained heat from manufacturing or which can be ignited readily and when ignited burns vigorously and persistently as to present a serious transportation hazard.
Hygroscopic
substance which absorbs moisture from the air or from the materials it touches
Hypergolic
immediately ignites upon contact with one another
Inhibition
substance added to prevent dangerous reactions
Initiation
triggers a chemical reaction and contributes towards that reaction
Inorganic
do not contain carbon
Lethal Dose
quantity of a material to kill 1/2 of the animals exposed to it under test conditions
Organic
contains carbon
Percutaneous
absorption of a poison through the skin
Poison
a substance that attacks the body in a number of ways - can enter through inhalation, ingestion, direct skin contact through a puncture or wound
Pyrophoric
spontaneously ignite in air at normal temperature
Reactive
reacts in a dangerous manner with another substance, air, water or other compounds
Acids
chemicals with the presence of positive hydrogen ions
Alcohols
water soluble - flammable with blueish flame - presence of the hydroxyl radical (-OH)
Alkalis (Bases)
slippery in water solution - react with acids to form salts - contains negatively charged hydroxide ion - very caustic and destructive to tissue
Carbides
compounds formed when metals or semi metals combine with carbon
Caustics
substances which are burning and destructive to human tissue
Compressed Gas
material having a vapour pressure exceeding 280kPa at 21C in a container
Corrosives
substances which are burning and destructive to human tissue
Fluorocarbons
plastics - Teflon and Scotchgaurd which will not burn
Hydrocarbons
compound composed of only 2 elements - hydrogen and carbon - most common fuels (gasoline, fuel oil, natural gas, propane, etc.) are hydrocarbons
Inert Gases
(helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon) - stable, non-flammable and non-toxic, they are oxygen displacers and high concentrations can create a hazard due to oxygen deficiency
Nitrates
salts found when nitric acid reacts with a base
Oxidizers
oxidizing agents - are generally considered to be those substances that release oxygen or another oxidizing gas during the heat of a fire or when contacted by other metals
Placard - Explosives(class 1)
Orange background, black letters
Placard - Compressed, Liquified, Dissolved under pressure or deeply refrigerated gases(class 2) - FLAMMABLE GASES
-Red background, white letters
Placard - Compressed, Liquified, Dissolved under pressure or deeply refrigerated gases(class 2) - CRYOGENICS
-Green background, white cylinder
Placard - Compressed, Liquified, Dissolved under pressure or deeply refrigerated gases(class 2) - POISONOUS GASES
-White background, skull & cross bones
Placard - Compressed, Liquified, Dissolved under pressure or deeply refrigerated gases(class 2) - SPECIAL POISONOUS GASES
-white background
Placard - Compressed, Liquified, Dissolved under pressure or deeply refrigerated gases(class 2) - CORROSIVE GASES
-white background, black cylinder
Placard - Compressed, Liquified, Dissolved under pressure or deeply refrigerated gases(class 2 and class 5) - requires 2 placards for compressed gases and oxidizers
- class 2 - green background, white cylinder
- class 5 - yellow background, black circle with flame
Placard - Flammable liquids(class3)
-red background, white flame
Placard - Flammable solid(3 different ones)(class4)
- Red and white stripped background, black flame(sulphur)
- lower half red & upper half white, black flame (common waste)
- blue background with white flame (calcium carbide)
Placard - oxidizers and organic peroxides(class 5)
-Yellow background with black slamming circle
Placard - poisonous and infectious substances (class 6)(3 different ones)
- white background with skull and cross bones
- white background with black crossed wheat sheaf
- white background with INFECTIOUS printed on the lower half of label.(virus and disease cultures and autopsy specimens)
Placard - Radioactive material
-Black trefoil on yellow and white background. top hals yellow, bottom half white
Placard - Corrosives
-white upper half background showing destroying of tissue, black lower half
Placard - Miscellaneous dangerous substances or articles
-white background with red exclamation mark
Typical pressure of Natural Gas Lines in suburban areas
10-75 psi depending on the area.
Explosive limit of Natural Gas
4-14%
Methods of reducing Radioactive exposure
- time (reduce the amount of time in the exposed area)
- distance (radiation dose drops of the further you move away from it)
- shielding (protective material between you and the source)
Should an alarm come in involving radiation source, the following points should be observed at the fire:
- should not enter a placarded area unless accompanied by a monitoring official equipped with appropriate equipment for radiation detection
- if no detection equipment is available, officer should use his best efforts to confine the fire to the room or area involved, and prevent fire from spreading.
- if radioactive materials are present where the fire is, use SCBA and complete coverage by firefighting gear
- Wide pattern low velocity fog - should be used - try to minimize disturbance of equipment used with radioactive items.
- do not perform salvage operations - except under the direction of a authorized monitoring official.
Static Electricity
is an electrical charge that cannot move
Static electricity is commonly produced when
- liquid flows through a pipe or hose, or through an opening in a pipe or hose
- spraying or coating
- blending or mixing
- filling tanks, drums, cans or pails
- dry powder material passes through chutes or pneumatic conveyers
- non conductive conveyer belts or drive belts and moving appliances are plugged into electrical outlets
For static electricity to be a hazard, four conditions just be present.
1-there must be a means for a static charge to develop
2-enough energy must build up to cause ignition
3-there must be a discharge of the energy (a spark)
4-the spark must occur in an ignitable vapour or dust
To prevent static when transferring liquids
- make sure that the nozzle is touching the bottom of the vessel so the liquid discharges horizontally
- lower the rate of flow.
Define Decontamination
is the process of removing contaminants from people, equipment, structures, the environment or nothing that may be contaminated. Decontamination is primarily designed to minimize exposure to hazardous substances and limit the spread of contamination.
2 questions must be asked of possibly exposed or contaminated patients:
1-Did you get any chemical on you? In other words, are you contaminated? If the answer is yes, this person may require decontamination. Direct this person to the warm zone for further assessment
2-Are you feeling any of the effects of the chemicals? In other words, have you been exposed? At very least, this person will be required medical assessment.
The 3 most important reasons for decontaminating exposed casualties
1-Removing agent from the patients skin and clothing, thus reducing further agent exposure and physical effects
2-Protecting emergency responders, medical personnel and others from secondary transfer and exposures
3-Preventing persons from spreading contamination over additional areas.
Methods for Decontamination
Discarding - removing and disposing of contaminated clothing and equipment.
Dilution - copious amounts of water
Absorption(Dry) and Brushing/Vacuuming - use of absorption material, or removing material by brushing the material off or by vacuuming using a Hepa vacuum.
Considerations before decontaminating
1-Is decontamination necessary
2-Is full body decontamination necessary
3-Is privacy an issue
4-Is cold weather an issue - above 36F temp isn’t an issue under 35F temp is
Procedures for 1st arriving crew with small number of patients
Duties of the Captain
-assess the situation, ensure safety of crew is protected
-establish zones and communicates over the radio
-direct the patients from areas of danger
-ask if patients are contaminated or exposed
-if patient is contaminated - then determine how decontamination will be accomplished
Duties of the FF
-if immediate decontamination is required - 2 FFs use hand line - consider upwind uphill - limit travel of runoff(maybe on soil or grass)
-charge handline to 60-90 psi
-FF1 guide the patients on how to remove clothing and turn into fog for best decontamination
-FF2 with hose line wash from head down)high volume, low pressure)
-direct patients to medical treatment are in cold zone
6 basic steps for mass decontamination
1-Initial size-up 2-Establish zones 3-Patient control and decon triage 4-Decontamination setup 5-Mass decontamination execution 6-Post decontamination
