FF Safety/PPE

FF Safety/PPE

Module II

Introduction

• Fire fighter survival is the primary objective.

• Survival depends on making the right decisions and performing the right actions.

• Learn to recognize dangerous situations and to take appropriate actions.

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Risk-Benefit Analysis (1 of 7)

• Approach to emergency operations can limit the risk of fire fighter deaths and injuries.

• Based upon comparing the positive results that can be achieved with the probability and severity of potential negative consequences

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Risk-Benefit Analysis (2 of 7)

• Practiced at several different levels – IC

• Responsible for the high-level risk-benefit analysis • Assesses the risks and benefits before committing

crews to an interior attack • Reassess the risks and benefits during the

operation

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Risk-Benefit Analysis (3 of 7)

• Company officer – Processes risk and benefits to ensure the

safety of a group of fire fighters– Involved in continuous risk analysis

• Fire fighter – Makes a risk-benefit analysis from his or her

perspective

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Risk-Benefit Analysis (4 of 7)

• Philosophy– We will not risk our lives at all for persons or

property that are already lost. – We will accept a limited level risk, under

measured and controlled conditions, to save property of value.

– We will accept a higher level of risk only where there is a reasonable and realistic possibility of saving lives.

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Risk-Benefit Analysis (5 of 7)

• Do not risk fire fighters’ lives by entering a burning building if:– Unoccupied– Occupants could not

survive– No property of value can

be saved– Property has no value

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Risk-Benefit Analysis (6 of 7)

• If there is a reasonable possibility that property can be saved, but no lives are at stake, fire fighters can be committed to an interior attack. – Combination of PPE, training, and SOPs

designed to allow fire fighters to work safely– No property is worth the life of a fire fighter.

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Risk-Benefit Analysis (7 of 7)

• Only permissible to risk fire fighter’s life when there is a real possibility of saving a life– Actions must be conducted in as safe a

manner as possible. – Determination that risk is acceptable does not

justify taking unsafe actions.

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Hazard Indicators (1 of 4)

• Fire fighters must be capable of working safely in a hazardous environment.

• Danger of firefighting should never be thought of as routine. – Learn to routinely follow safe SOPs.

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Hazard Indicators (2 of 4)

• Recognize many different types of hazards and act appropriately.

• Example of a common hazard is the presence of smoke inside a structure.

• Proper response to the hazard is to wear SCBA.

• Obvious hazard is recognized and a standard solution is applied.

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Hazard Indicators (3 of 4)

• Many hazards easy to recognize – Smoke

• Other hazards require further study and experience.– Building construction– Weather conditions– Occupancy

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Hazard Indicators (4 of 4)

• Building construction– Predict fire behavior and

collapse potential

• Weather conditions– Can create hazards

• Occupancy– A warning placard

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Safe Operating Procedures

• Define how operations are conducted.• Many based on fire fighter health and

safety• Consistently follow safe operating

procedures.– Must be learned and practiced– When under pressure, people will revert to

habits.

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Team Integrity (1 of 2)

• Teamwork is essential.

• Standard team is a company.

• Standard company is 3-5 fire fighters and a company officer.

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Team Integrity (2 of 2)

• Team integrity means that a company arrives at a fire together, works together, and leaves together.

• Always use a buddy system.– Follow the two-in/two-out rule.

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Personnel Accountability System (1 of 3)• Systematic method to

track everyone’s location and function

• Responsibility of the IC

• Track from arrival to release

• Track each member of a company

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Personnel Accountability System (2 of 3)• Can take many forms

– Written roster or computer database

• List of assigned company members is carried on each piece of apparatus. – Tags for all members are affixed to a special

board called a passport carried in the cab.

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Personnel Accountability System (3 of 3)• Passport given to command post or at

point of entry

• Picked up upon exiting

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Personnel Accountability Report• Personnel accountability report (PAR)

– Roll call taken by each supervisor– Company officer verifies presence of members.– Occurs every 10 minutes, tactical benchmarks, and

after unusual events

• Any time a fire fighter cannot be accounted for, he or she is considered missing until proven otherwise.

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Emergency Communication (1 of 2)

• Breakdown is a major cause of deaths and injuries to fire fighters.

• Ensure message is stated clearly.

• Repeat message back as confirmation.

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Emergency Communication (2 of 2)

• Reserved phrases, sounds, and signals for emergency messages should be a part of your department’s SOPs.

• Phrases should be known and practiced by everyone in the department.

• In many areas, these procedures are coordinated regionally.

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Mayday

• Used if a fire fighter is in danger– A fire fighter can call Mayday to request help.– Another fire fighter can use to report team

member missing or in trouble.

• Mayday takes precedence over all other radio communications.

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Emergency Traffic

• Used to indicate imminent fire ground hazard– Potential explosion or structural collapse

• Used to order fire fighters to immediately withdraw from interior

• Takes precedence over all other radio communications – Except Mayday

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Special Tones

• Communications centers can emit a special tone over the radio to alert all members.– Information is repeated to be certain it is

heard correctly by all.

• All imminent hazards and emergency instructions should capture the attention of everyone at the incident scene.

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Initiating a Mayday (1 of 2)

• Analysis shows that fire fighters often wait until it’s too late to call for help.

• Failure to act promptly can be fatal in many situations.

• Do not hesitate to call for help when you think you need it.

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Initiating a Mayday (2 of 2)

• Transmit Mayday-Mayday-Mayday over radio.

• Clearly state:– Name– Nature of problem– Location

• Activate PASS.• Activate emergency button on radio

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Rapid Intervention Crew (1 of 3)

• Established solely to rescue fire fighters

• Stands by fully dressed and equipped

• An extension of the two-in/two-out rule– Minimum of two fire fighters is required to

establish an entry team.– Minimum of two additional fire fighters is

required to remain outside the hazardous area.

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Rapid Intervention Crew (2 of 3)

• Outside fire fighters can perform other duties.

• Must be ready to assist at all times

• The two fire fighters who remain outside are the first stage of RIC.

• The dedicated RIC team is the second stage.

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Rapid Intervention Crew (3 of 3)

• RIC should be in place when fire fighters are operating in IDLH conditions.

• IC should immediately deploy the RIC to any situation where a fire fighter needs immediate assistance. – Lost or missing fire fighter – Injured fire fighter who has to be removed from a

hazardous location– A trapped fire fighter

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Fire Fighter Survival Procedures• Your personal safety could depend on

learning, practicing, and consistently following fire fighter survival procedures.

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Maintaining Orientation (1 of 3)

• Very easy to become disoriented in a dark, smoke-filled building

• Extremely important to stay oriented

• If you get lost, you could run out of air.

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Maintaining Orientation (2 of 3)

• Several methods can be used to stay oriented inside a smoke-filled building. – Before entering, look at building from the

outside to get an idea of the size, shape, arrangement, and number of stories.

– After entering, follow walls and pay attention to where you go.

– Always stay in contact with a hose line.

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Maintaining Orientation (3 of 3)

• Team integrity is an important factor in maintaining orientation. – Everyone works together to stay oriented. – When team members cannot see each other,

stay in direct physical contact or within verbal contact.

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Guideline

• A rope attached to an object on the exterior or a known fixed location

• Used for orientation when inside a structure

• Stretched out as a crew enters the structure

• Guideline technique requires intense practice.

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Self-Rescue (1 of 5)

• Immediately call for assistance.

• Do not wait.

• Initiate the process as soon as you think you are in trouble.

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Self-Rescue (2 of 5)

• If you are simply separated from your crew:– Follow a hose line back to an open doorway. – Descend a ladder. – Climb out through a ground floor window. – Notify IC that you are safe.

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Self-Rescue (3 of 5)

• There are complicated techniques that fire fighters can use to escape from dangerous predicaments.

• Include some standard methods:– Breaching a wall– Using a rescue line and harness to rappel

down to the ground

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Self-Rescue (4 of 5)

• Disentanglement– Important skill that needs to be learned and

practiced – Many fire fighters carry small tools to cut

through wires or small cables. – Can be very difficult if visibility does not allow

the entangling material to be seen and identified

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Self-Rescue (5 of 5)

• Some self-rescue methods involve using tools and equipment in manners for which they were not designed.

• These are considered last resort methods. • Should only be taught by instructors and

practiced with strict safety measures in place • Very controversial

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Safe Havens (1 of 3)

• Temporary location that provides refuge while awaiting rescue or finding a method of self-rescue

• Safety is relative—less dangerous than the alternative

• Important when situations become critical • Know where to look for and how to recognize

one.

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Safe Havens (2 of 3)

• A room with a door and a window could be a safe haven.

• Safe haven provides time for rescue team to reach fire fighters.

• A roof or floor collapse often leaves a void adjacent to an exterior wall.

• Maintaining team integrity is important.

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Safe Havens (3 of 3)

• These activities require good instruction and practice.

• Follow your department’s operating guidelines.

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Air Management (1 of 5)

• Air equals time.

• Time in a hazardous atmosphere must include entry and exit time.

• Time rating on an SCBA is for low exertion.– Often a 30-minute supply is used in 10-12

minutes.

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Air Management (2 of 5)

• Rate of consumption varies among fire fighters.– Also depends on activities being performed– Air management is a team effort as well as an

individual effort. – Team member who uses the air supply most

rapidly determines the working time for the team.

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Air Management (3 of 5)

• Determine your personal air usage rate by participating in an SCBA consumption exercise .

• Knowing team members’ physical conditions and workload can help keep them safe.– Team member could use up his of her air

supply much faster without realizing it.

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Air Management (4 of 5)

• Be aware of the SCBA limitations.– Do not enter a hazardous area unless your air

cylinder is full. – Know your air supply.– Do not wait until the low-pressure alarm

sounds to start thinking about leaving the hazardous area.

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Air Management (5 of 5)

• Emergency situations can occur.– SCBA can malfunction. – Fire fighters can be trapped. – Remain calm. – Know how to use all of the SCBA emergency

features.

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Rescuing a Downed Fire Fighter (1 of 4)• One of the most critical and demanding

situations

• Air management has to be considered for the rescuers as well as the fire fighter who is in trouble.

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Rescuing a Downed Fire Fighter (2 of 4)• Assess the fire fighter’s condition.

– Is the fire fighter conscious and breathing? – Does the fire fighter have a pulse? – Is the fire fighter trapped or injured?

• Make a rapid assessment.

• Notify IC of your situation and location.

• Have the RIC deployed to your location.

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Rescuing a Downed Fire Fighter (3 of 4)• Can the fire fighter be moved quickly and

easily?

• Air supply will be an important consideration.

• A fire fighter who is breathing and has an adequate air supply is not in immediate, life-threatening danger.

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Rescuing a Downed Fire Fighter (4 of 4)• If there is very little air or no air in the

SCBA, this is a critical priority. • Move the fire fighter out of the hazardous

area immediately or provide an additional air supply.

• Many newer SCBA units are designed with an additional hose or hose connections for buddy breathing.

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Rehabilitation (1 of 3)

• Reduces the effects of fatigue during an emergency operation – Firefighting involves very demanding physical

labor. – Can challenge fire fighters when combined

with the extremes of weather and the mental stresses

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Rehabilitation (2 of 3)

• Helps fire fighters retain ability to perform and restores capacity to work

• At small incidents, can be set up on tailboard with a water cooler

• At larger incidents, complete operation established– Personnel monitor vital signs and provide first

aid.

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Rehabilitation (3 of 3)

• Rehabilitation is integral to fire fighter safety and survival.

• Personnel accountability system must continue to track fire fighters who report to and are released from rehabilitation.

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Critical Incident Stress (1 of 5)

• Critical incidents challenge the capacity of individuals to deal with stress.

• Examples of critical incidents include:– Line-of-duty deaths (police, fire/rescue, EMS) – Suicide of a colleague – Serious injury to a colleague

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Critical Incident Stress (2 of 5)

• Situations that involve a high level of personal risk

• Events in which the victim is known• Multicasualty/disaster/terrorism incidents • Events involving death or life-threatening

injury/illness• Events that are prolonged or end with a negative

or unexpected outcome

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Critical Incident Stress (3 of 5)

• Normal coping mechanisms help many fire fighters. – Exercise– Talking to family and friends– Religious beliefs

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Critical Incident Stress (4 of 5)

• Sometimes fire fighters react to critical incidents negatively.– Alcohol abuse – Depression – Inability to function normally – Negative attitude towards life and work

• Symptoms can occur in anyone.

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Critical Incident Stress (5 of 5)

• A routine incident can trigger negative reactions from a past incident.

• Critical incident stress can also be cumulative.

• Sometimes it is called burnout. – Cannot be traced to any one incident

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Critical Incident Stress Management (1 of 7)• Designed to prevent reactions from having

a negative impact on the fire fighter’s work and life

• Understand CISM and how to access it.

• Important part of fire fighter survival

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Critical Incident Stress Management (2 of 7)• Emotional reaction experienced by fire fighters

can include:– Anxiety – Denial/disbelief – Frustration/anger – Inability to function logically – Remorse – Grief – Reconciliation/acceptance

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Critical Incident Stress Management (3 of 7)• Stages occur within minutes, hours, days,

or even months.

• Not all steps will occur and will not always occur in order.

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Critical Incident Stress Management (4 of 7)• CISM helps fire fighters recognize and deal with

these reactions in the most positive manner possible.

• There are some variations in the way this is accomplished.

• In-house, peer-driven programs guided and assisted by mental health care professionals are a proven method for CISM.

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Critical Incident Stress Management (5 of 7)• Most CISM programs

operate in a similar manner. – First, there is an

informal process where a trained CISM team member will have a conversation with an individual.

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Critical Incident Stress Management (6 of 7)• If an incident requires further intervention, a

series of steps might follow. – Range from a semi-formal group discussion of the

incident to the inclusion of health care professionals – Most common form of CISM is peer defusing. – Purpose of a debriefing is to allow an open discussion

of feelings, fears, and reactions to the situation that occurred.

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Critical Incident Stress Management (7 of 7)• A debriefing is not an investigation or an

interrogation. – Usually held within 24 to 72 hours after a major

incident – Leaders offer suggestions and information on

overcoming stress.

• Fire fighters should realize that emotional and mental health must be protected, just as much as physical health and safety.

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Summary (1 of 2)

• Risk-benefit analysis• Hazard indicators• Safe operating procedures

– Fire fighter survival procedures– Team integrity– Personnel accountability system– Emergency Communications– Mayday– RIC

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Summary (2 of 2)

• Fire fighter survival procedures – Safe havens

• Air management

• Rehabilitation

• Critical incident stress management

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