FIREFIGHTER I • LESSON 1B

GOALS OF A FIREFIGHTER GOALS OF A FIREFIGHTER SAFETY PROGRAMSAFETY PROGRAM

• Preventing human suffering, deaths, injuries, Preventing human suffering, deaths, injuries, and exposures to hazardous atmospheres and and exposures to hazardous atmospheres and contagious diseasescontagious diseases

• Preventing damage/loss of equipmentPreventing damage/loss of equipment

• Reducing the incidence and severity of Reducing the incidence and severity of accidents and hazardous exposuresaccidents and hazardous exposures

Safety practices cannot simply be taught – Safety practices cannot simply be taught – they must be practiced and enforced.they must be practiced and enforced.

TS 1B–1

FIREFIGHTER HEALTH FIREFIGHTER HEALTH GUIDELINESGUIDELINES

• Stay informed about job-related health issues.Stay informed about job-related health issues.

• Follow recommendations for vaccination against Follow recommendations for vaccination against hepatitis B.hepatitis B.

• Use precautions to avoid exposure to HIV.Use precautions to avoid exposure to HIV.

• Learn proper lifting techniques.Learn proper lifting techniques.

• Use tools designed to assist in lifting heavy Use tools designed to assist in lifting heavy objects.objects.

• Properly clean and store tools and equipment Properly clean and store tools and equipment used in patient care.used in patient care.

TS 1B–2a

FIREFIGHTER HEALTH FIREFIGHTER HEALTH GUIDELINES (cont.)GUIDELINES (cont.)

• Maintain a regular exercise program to sustain Maintain a regular exercise program to sustain physical fitness.physical fitness.

• Maintain a diet that reduces cholesterol, fat, Maintain a diet that reduces cholesterol, fat, and sodium intake.and sodium intake.

• Be aware of cardiovascular and cancer risks.Be aware of cardiovascular and cancer risks.

• Have regular physicals and medical check-ups.Have regular physicals and medical check-ups.

TS 1B–2b

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMEMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AREAS OF ASSISTANCE AREAS OF ASSISTANCE

• Alcohol abuseAlcohol abuse

• Drug abuseDrug abuse

• Personal problemsPersonal problems

• StressStress

• DepressionDepression

• AnxietyAnxiety

TS 1B–3

• DivorceDivorce

• Career developmentCareer development

• NutritionNutrition

• HypertensionHypertension

• Smoking cessationSmoking cessation

• Weight controlWeight control

BENEFITS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFITS OF AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMASSISTANCE PROGRAM

• Is available to all members and their familiesIs available to all members and their families

• Provides referralsProvides referrals

• Provides health education and counselingProvides health education and counseling

• Assists with handling critical incident stressAssists with handling critical incident stress

Prebriefing

Debriefing (CISD)

Defusing

TS 1B–4

APPARATUS APPARATUS SAFETY RULESSAFETY RULES

• Seat yourself in the Seat yourself in the apparatus.apparatus.

• Do not ride standing Do not ride standing anywhere on the anywhere on the apparatus.apparatus.

• Do not dress while Do not dress while apparatus is in motion.apparatus is in motion.

• Ride within fully enclosed Ride within fully enclosed portion of cab; if unable, portion of cab; if unable, wear helmet and eye wear helmet and eye protection.protection.

TS 1B–5

• Wear ear protection if Wear ear protection if noise level exceeds 90 noise level exceeds 90 decibels. decibels.

• Fasten your seat belt.Fasten your seat belt.

• Never ride on the Never ride on the tailboard.tailboard.

• Use handrails when Use handrails when dismounting apparatus.dismounting apparatus.

• Jump clear of apparatus Jump clear of apparatus that may be in contact that may be in contact with electrical wireswith electrical wires..

PERSONAL SAFETY RULES PERSONAL SAFETY RULES IN THE FIRE STATIONIN THE FIRE STATION

• Use proper lifting techniques to prevent back Use proper lifting techniques to prevent back injury.injury.

• Keep floors clean and free of slipping hazards.Keep floors clean and free of slipping hazards.

• Watch your footing on stairs and uneven surfaces.Watch your footing on stairs and uneven surfaces.

• Keep traffic areas free of tripping hazards.Keep traffic areas free of tripping hazards.

• Be sure that aisles are unobstructed and that stairs Be sure that aisles are unobstructed and that stairs are well lighted.are well lighted.

• Maintain handrails, slide poles, and slides in a safe Maintain handrails, slide poles, and slides in a safe condition.condition.

TS 1B–6

TOOL & EQUIPMENTTOOL & EQUIPMENT SAFETY RULES SAFETY RULES

• Wear appropriate PPE.Wear appropriate PPE.

• Remove all jewelry.Remove all jewelry.

• Select the appropriate Select the appropriate tool for the job.tool for the job.

• Know the Know the manufacturer’s manufacturer’s instructions and follow instructions and follow them.them.

• Inspect tools before Inspect tools before use to determine their use to determine their condition. condition.

TS 1B–7

• Replace damaged or Replace damaged or broken tools.broken tools.

• Return tools to storage Return tools to storage after use.after use.

• Inspect and clean tools Inspect and clean tools before storing.before storing.

• Secure manufacturer’s Secure manufacturer’s approval before approval before modifying a tool.modifying a tool.

• Use spark-resistant Use spark-resistant tools in flammable tools in flammable atmospheres.atmospheres.

HAND & POWER TOOLHAND & POWER TOOLSAFETY RULESSAFETY RULES

HAND TOOLSHAND TOOLS

• Inspect all tools before each use.Inspect all tools before each use.

• Never use a “cheater” to supply additional Never use a “cheater” to supply additional leverage.leverage.

POWER TOOLSPOWER TOOLS

• Ensure that trained, authorized personnel make Ensure that trained, authorized personnel make repairs.repairs.

• Ensure that any electrical tool Ensure that any electrical tool notnot marked marked “double insulated” has three-prong plug.“double insulated” has three-prong plug.

TS 1B–8

POWER SAW POWER SAW SAFETY RULESSAFETY RULES

• Match the saw to the task and the material to be Match the saw to the task and the material to be cut.cut.

• Wear proper protective equipment.Wear proper protective equipment.

• Have hoselines in place when using a power Have hoselines in place when using a power saw to force entry into an area where fire is saw to force entry into an area where fire is suspected and when using a power saw to suspected and when using a power saw to perform vertical ventilation.perform vertical ventilation.

• Avoid the use of all saws when working in a Avoid the use of all saws when working in a flammable atmosphere.flammable atmosphere.

TS 1B–9a

POWER SAW POWER SAW SAFETY RULES (cont.)SAFETY RULES (cont.)

• Keep unprotected and unessential people out Keep unprotected and unessential people out of the work area.of the work area.

• Follow manufacturer’s procedures for proper Follow manufacturer’s procedures for proper saw operation.saw operation.

• Use caution to avoid igniting gasoline vapors Use caution to avoid igniting gasoline vapors when refueling a hot, gasoline-powered saw.when refueling a hot, gasoline-powered saw.

• Keep blades and chains well sharpened.Keep blades and chains well sharpened.

TS 1B–9b

TRAINING SAFETYTRAINING SAFETY

• NFPA 1500NFPA 1500 requires monthly training for all who requires monthly training for all who may engage in structural fire fighting.may engage in structural fire fighting.

• Other training sessions should be required as Other training sessions should be required as needed or at least twice a year.needed or at least twice a year.

TS 1B–10

PERSONAL SAFETYPERSONAL SAFETY

• All training at a drill site must include protective All training at a drill site must include protective gear.gear.

• Trainees with any symptoms of illness should Trainees with any symptoms of illness should have a medical examination before they have a medical examination before they continue training.continue training.

• Horseplay during training is forbidden.Horseplay during training is forbidden.

TS 1B–11

MAINTAINING & SERVICING MAINTAINING & SERVICING EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT

• Training equipment must be maintained in peak Training equipment must be maintained in peak condition.condition.

• All tools and equipment should be inspected All tools and equipment should be inspected before each drill.before each drill.

TS 1B–12

EMERGENCY SCENE SAFETY EMERGENCY SCENE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONSCONSIDERATIONS

• Is it safe or feasible to undertake the emergency Is it safe or feasible to undertake the emergency operation?operation?

• Does operation require rescuing victims or Does operation require rescuing victims or stopping property loss?stopping property loss?

• Do risks involved warrant limiting the actions of Do risks involved warrant limiting the actions of firefighters?firefighters?

• Remember that the IC’s Remember that the IC’s firstfirst priority is firefighter priority is firefighter safety; the second, victim safety.safety; the second, victim safety.

TS 1B–13

CROWD CONTROL CROWD CONTROL

• Know that law enforcement is usually Know that law enforcement is usually responsible for crowd control.responsible for crowd control.

• Keep all bystanders away from the incident for Keep all bystanders away from the incident for their own safety and that of victims and their own safety and that of victims and emergency personnel.emergency personnel.

• Keep friends and relatives of victims away from Keep friends and relatives of victims away from the incident but treated with sensitivity and the incident but treated with sensitivity and understanding in an area of their own.understanding in an area of their own.

• Know that zone boundaries are affected by Know that zone boundaries are affected by work space, hazard degree, and topography.work space, hazard degree, and topography.

TS 1B–14

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY TAG SYSTEMTAG SYSTEM

• A simple tag system can help account for A simple tag system can help account for personnel within the fireground perimeter.personnel within the fireground perimeter.

• Identification tags are attached to a control Identification tags are attached to a control board for quick reference.board for quick reference.

TS 1B–15

PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY SCBA TAG SYSTEMSCBA TAG SYSTEM

• An SCBA tag system provides accountability An SCBA tag system provides accountability for personnel inside a structure.for personnel inside a structure.

• Tags allow supervisor to record time of entry Tags allow supervisor to record time of entry and exit of each firefighter.and exit of each firefighter.

TS 1B–16

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