Firefighter I

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Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Procedures ◦ Formal and informal processes that are in place as department management tools ◦ Designed to foster safety, they create structure for all activities that occur on the fireground and emergency scenes ◦ Formal processes  Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)  Standard Operating Guideline (SOG)  Training manual ◦ Informal processes or procedures are  Departmental routines that are not written  One example is placing boots next to the bed during sleep hours, or putting them next to the rig during daylight hours 3

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Equipment ◦ Equipment is designed for safety  NFPA Standards are for design and safe use  Equipment must be inspected and maintained ◦ Because equipment is used by different firefighters, documentation of repairs and maintenance is critical for personnel safety ◦ Equipment use  Use of the right tool for the right job is essential for emergency scene safety  For safety reasons, all equipment should be used in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and directions 4

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Personnel ◦ Human factors can contribute to scene safety  Training needs to be regular and consistent  Perhaps the single most important element of scene safety is training. It leads to good decisions and effective critical thinking skills 5

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Personnel (continued) ◦ Firefighter fitness and health  Enables firefighters to deal with the inherent stresses of firefighting  Participate in annual health screening  Work hardening to perform physical tasks (work hardening helps prevent firefighter injuries from typical firefighting tasks)  Work hardening and mandatory fitness training and testing  Nutrition education for fire service personnel relates directly to incident readiness and scene safety 6

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Personnel (continued) ◦ Firefighter fitness and health (continued)  Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)  A system used for firefighters and others who work with fire victims to help them to cope with or resolve the stress of working with gruesome injuries or horrific scenes  Prebriefing (knowing what to expect) can ease the stress of entering a scene  Defusing (minor debriefing after an event) can ease stress for firefighters who must enter a scene more than once  Qualified stress managers should be available when needed  Personnel should utilize Member Assistance Programs (MAP)  Deals with issues that could affect job performance and firefighter safety  Offers professional mental health services and other health services to fire service employees 7

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Department (Effective leadership) ◦ Enforce departmental rules, policies and procedures in accordance with NFPA 1500 (Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program) and OSHA regulations (which are part of the Code of Federal Regulations) ◦ Create a health and safety committee ◦ Develop SOPs relative to safety ◦ Implement a risk management plan ◦ Purchase appropriately safe and effective apparatus and equipment ◦ All training should occur with an emphasis on safety 8

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Firefighter (Operational readiness)  Prepared mentally  Prepared physically  Understand operational procedures:  Recognize and follow the Chain of Command.  Performance is consistent with training expectations 9

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Highway (roadway) emergencies ◦ Follow Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines  Position apparatus to block oncoming traffic  Block at least one traffic lane next to the incident (more if necessary)  Be extremely careful when dismounting the apparatus  Turn the front wheels in the direction away from the emergency  Use traffic cones effectively to detour traffic away from the scene  Turn off the lights facing oncoming traffic to avoid distracting or blinding drivers  Do not walk with your back to traffic  Wear reflective vests if Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not being used 10

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Fire and other emergencies ◦ Crowd control  To maintain scene safety  To prevent interference with firefighters and other emergency personnel operating at emergency incidents  To prevent injury to spectators and emergency response teams  Relatives and friends of victims in an incident should be restrained from coming too close to emergency operations (do not leave them unattended; have someone attend to them until the victims are removed from the scene) 11

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Fire and other emergencies (continued) ◦ Scene control zones  Can be used to establish scene security  Many departments establish three zones:  Hot  Warm  Cold 12

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Fire and other emergencies (continued) ◦ Personnel accountability  Used to identify and track personnel at emergency incidents  Passport systems (tag systems) account for personnel within the hazard zone  Passports are collected by an accountability officer and attached to a control board or an ID chart. They are returned as personnel leave the hazard zone 13

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Fire and other emergencies (continued) ◦ Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Tag System  More accountability than a passport system  In addition to passport collection, time of entry is noted along with lowest SCBA pressure among team members  PPE is checked prior to entry 14

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Fire and other emergencies (continued) ◦ Interior operations  Follow the department’s SOPs  Size up before making interior entry (look for windows or doors that could be used as emergency exits)  Wear full PPE (including SCBA) always  Have tools with you as necessary  Stay with your team through physical, voice, or visual contact  Maintain radio contact with the Incident Commander (IC)  Take some sort of tag line, lifeline, or hose with you into the hazard zone  Be aware of your surroundings by maintaining situational awareness  Know when and how to call for help (use Mayday, the international distress signal) 15

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Fire and other emergencies (continued) ◦ Emergency escape  Be prepared to save yourself  Understand how to activate your Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device ◦ Rapid Intervention Teams/Crews (RIT/RIC).  Part of the 2-in/2-out criteria mandated by NFPA 1500 and OSHA anytime firefighters are going to be in an atmosphere that is Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH)  Their primary assignment is to rescue emergency personnel who have become lost, disorientated, injured, or trapped 16

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.  , Essentials of Firefighting (5 th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA)  , Firefighter's Handbook: Firefighter I and Firefighter II (3 rd Edition), Delmar Cengage Learning  Do an Internet search for: three firefighters injured in residential collapse  Images used with permission from IFSTA (slides 10, 12, 13 and 14) 17