Download - Chapter 14 Emergency Operations

Chapter 14

Emergency Operations

Introduction

• Personnel can be divide into two general areas, operations and support

• Fundamental role of fire department is to respond to emergencies

• Incident type determines which personnel will respond

• Multiple agencies may show up at an incident to determine objectives, strategies, and tactics

• Law enforcement and other agencies assist and sometimes command incidents with fire department

FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY INITIATIVES

• Cultural change

• Personal and organizational accountability

• Risk management

• Stop unsafe practices

• Training qualificationsCont.

Learning Objective 1

16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives


• Medical and physical fitness standards

• Data collection system

• Utilize available technology

• Investigate all firefighter fatalities

• Safe practicesCont.




• Response policies and procedures

• Response to violent incidents

• Counseling and psychological support

• Public education

• Enforcement of codes

• Apparatus and equipment



PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE 16 INITIATIVES

• Duty and responsibility

• Firefighter maintenance program

• Rehab guidelines

• Passengers when responding to incidents

• Drivers responding to incidents

• Interior firefighting



RAPID INTERVENTION TEAMS

• Immediate rescue effort

• Standing by in full PPE

• Equipment and clothing same as entry team

• Firefighter Assist and Search Teams (FAST)



TWO IN, TWO OUT

• OSHA regulation

• Applies to fires beyond ignition stage

• Only exception is threat of imminent danger

• Visual or voice contact at all times



STRUCTURE FIREFIGHTING

• Basic responsibility of fire department

• Structure loss to a minimum

• Primary search

• Coordinated attack

Cont.

Learning Objectives 2, 3, and 4

Roles and Limitations of the Fire DepartmentSafety Considerations at Different Emergencies


• Ventilation issues

• SCBA

• Leather gloves and boots

• Other building contents

• Structural collapseCont.




• Clandestine drug lab

• Flame and smoke indicators

• Second way out

• Do not freelance

• High-rise firefighting

• Electricity



SPRINKLERED OCCUPANCIES

• Causes of unsatisfactory performance

• Departments should establish SOPs

• Check all valves

• Turn off only portion in affected area for overhaul

• Conduct investigation



ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

• Substations and vaults

• High potential for electrocution

• Fog patterns or short bursts

• General rule; use electric company staff for guides

• Without power, Class C fire reverts to A, B, D, or K



WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING

• Basic methods of extinguishment

• Backfire

• Wildland safety

• Ten Standing Fire Orders

• 18 Situations That Shout Watch OutCont.



WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING

• Common causes for tragedy and near-miss incidents

• LCES

• F LCES ∆

• Look up, look down, look around

• Main message is safety



WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE/INTERMIX

• Foothills and mountainous areas

• Firefighters must be in the path of the advancing fire

• Protect as many structures as possible

• TRIAGE

• PROTECTION



OIL FIREFIGHTING

• Skill that needs to be developed

• Extinguish fire and control leaks

• Confine the fire and protect exposures

• Should be accompanied by refinery employees



THREE MAIN PROBLEMS

• Boil over

• Slop over

• Froth over

• Tanks with a cone roof

• Tanks with a floating roof



GASOLINE SPILLS

• Requires that vapors be controlled

• Should not enter area of spill

LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)

• Tanks are built to withstand high pressures

• BLEVE



HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS

• Becoming more common

• Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act

• Regular PPE not designed for hazardous materials

• Isolate, identify, and deny entry

• Set up perimetersCont.



HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS

• Identify the material involved

• After positive identification: Diking or berming Diverting Controlling



WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

• Take human lives and cause panic and disruption

• Chemical

• Biological

• Radioactive

• Nuclear

• Explosive



EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) OPERATIONS

• Exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens

• Category 1 employees are at greatest risk for exposure

• Personnel should have proper PPE

• Universal precautions

• Body substance isolation

Cont.



VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

• Class B foam for spilled fuel

• If spilled fuel, do not use power tools

VEHICLE FIRES

• Can have all the hazards of a structure fire

• Full PPE and SCBA should be worn



AIRCRAFT FIREFIGHTING

• Aircraft present many different hazards

• First priority, is to create a path

• Make entry to the aircraft

• Complete overhaul of the scene



EMS AND FIREFIGHTING WITH AIRCRAFT

• Most common encounter with rescue is the helicopter

• Rules for working around helicopters

• Setting up a landing zone

• Items pilot should be aware of

• Planes or helicopters may drop water or retardant



CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (CRM)

• Assumes human error is primary cause for injuries

• CRM based on five elements: Communication Situational awareness Decision making Teamwork Barriers


Firefighter Safety and Decision Making

2 & 7 TOOL

• Two errors: Underestimating hazards Failing to notice changing conditions

• Seven barriers Inexperience

Cont.



2 & 7 TOOL

Getting too comfortable Distraction from primary duty Priorities out of order Social influences Stress reaction Physical impairment



Summary

• Numerous safety rules can be applied to a wide range of situations

• Training programs are available for different incident types

• Every situation has its own set of hazards, and it is your responsibility to provide for personal safety and the safety of others

• Train yourself to evaluate situations as they arise

• Decision-making skills are critical for safety

• Remain constantly vigilant