january 2012 training - fire training toolboxfiretrainingtoolbox.com/packet4.pdf · january 2012...

Fire Suppression: Fire Behavior Done on shift EMS: CPR/AED Schedule with Capt. Burgess

Safety/Bluecard: Fit Testing Schedule with John McPherson Specialized: PPE/Super Heated Gear Removal Done on shift and watch all 9 videos in the PPE

channel on GFDTraining YouTube Misc.: Forcible Entry Done on shift/ Drivers need to teach the part

about location and care of FE Tools Hazmat: Anhydrous Ammonia, Propane &

Protective Actions Watch all three DVD in closet on the subject

and watch Policeman Killed Instantly By An Ammonia Gas Tank on GFDTraining YouTube

Hazmat Channel Officer: Fire Officer role and Safety

Chief Newgent @Officers meeting

January 2012 Training

Fire Dynamics Fire Dynamics is the study of how chemistry, fire science, material science and the mechanical engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics and heat transfer interact to influence fire behavior. In other words, Fire Dynamics is the study of how fires start, spread and develop. But what exactly is a fire?

Defining Fire Fire can be described in many ways - here are a few: • NFPA 921: "A rapid oxidation process, which is a chemical reaction resulting in

the evolution of light and heat in varying intensities." • Webster's Dictionary: "A fire is an exothermic chemical reaction that emits heat

and light" Fire can also be explained in terms of the Fire Tetrahedron - a geometric representation of what is required for fire to exist, namely, fuel, an oxidizing agent, heat, and an uninhibited chemical reaction.

Measuring Fire Heat Energy is a form of energy characterized by vibration of molecules and capable of initiating and supporting chemical changes and changes of state (NFPA 921). Heat energy is measured in units of Joules (J), however it can also be measured in Calories (1 Calorie = 4.184 J) and BTU's (1 BTU = 1055 J). Temperature is a measure of the degree of molecular activity of a material compared to a reference point. Temperature is measured in degrees Fahrenheit (melting point of ice = 32 º F, boiling point of water = 212 º F) or degrees Celsius (melting point of ice = 0 º C, boiling point of water = 100 º C).

º F Response 98.6 Normal human oral/body temperature 111 Human skin begins to feel pain 118 Human skin receives a first degree burn

injury 131 Human skin receives a second degree

burn injury 140 A phase where burned human tissue

becomes numb 162 Human skin is instantly destroyed 212 Water boils and produces steam 284 Glass transition temperature of

polycarbonate 446 Melting temperature of polycarbonate

Fire Behavior

482 Charring of natural cotton begins >572 Charring of modern protective clothing

fabrics begins >1112 Temperatures inside a post-flashover

room fire

Heat Transfer Heat transfer is a major factor in the ignition, growth, spread, decay and extinction of a fire. It is important to note that heat is always transferred from the hotter object to the cooler object - heat energy transferred to and object increases the object's temperature, and heat energy transferred from and object decreases the object's temperature. CONDUCTION Conduction is heat transfer within solids or between contacting solids.

CONVECTION Convection is heat transfer by the movement of liquids or gasses.

RADIATION Radiation is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves.

Fire Phenomena Fire Development is a function of many factors including: fuel properties, fuel quantity, ventilation (natural or mechanical), compartment geometry (volume and ceiling height), location of fire, and ambient conditions (temperature, wind, etc). Traditional Fire Development The Traditional Fire Development curve shows the time history of a fuel limited fire. In other words, the fire growth is not limited by a lack of oxygen. As more fuel becomes involved in the fire, the energy level continues to increase until all of the fuel available is burning (fully developed). Then as the fuel is burned away, the energy level begins to decay. The key is that oxygen is available to mix with the heated gases (fuel) to enable the completion of the fire triangle and the generation of energy.

Watch Traditional Fire Development video on GFDTraining @ Youtube in fire behavior channel.

Fire Behavior in a Structure The Fire Behavior in a Structure curve demonstrates the time history of a ventilation limited fire. In this case the fire starts in a structure which has the doors and windows closed. Early in the fire growth stage there is adequate oxygen to mix with the heated gases, which results in flaming combustion. As the oxygen level within the structure is depleted, the fire decays, the heat release from the fire decreases and as a result the temperature decreases. When a vent is opened, such as when the fire department enters a door, oxygen is introduced. The oxygen mixes with the heated gases in the structure and the energy level begins to increase. This change in ventilation can result in a rapid increase in fire growth potentially leading to a flashover (fully developed compartment fire) condition.

Changes in Today’s fires:

Modern Building Construction + More Plastics = Extreme Fire Behavior

Watch Modern Fire Development video on GFDTraining @ Youtube in fire behavior channel.

The tactical considerations include:

• Stages of fire development: The stages of fire development change when a fire becomes ventilation limited.

o It is common with today’s fire environment to have a decay period prior to flashover which emphasizes the importance of ventilation

• Forcing the front door is ventilation: Forcing entry has to be thought of as ventilation as well.

• o While forcing entry is necessary to fight the fire it must also trigger the

thought that air is being fed to the fire and the clock is ticking before either the fire gets extinguished or it grows until an untenable condition exists jeopardizing the safety of everyone in the structure.

• No smoke showing: A common event during the experiments was that once the fire became ventilation limited the smoke being forced out of the gaps of the houses greatly diminished or stopped all together.

o No some showing during size-up should increase awareness of the potential conditions inside.

• Coordination: If you add air to the fire and don’t apply water in the appropriate time frame the fire gets larger and safety decreases.

• DON’T FORCE DOOR UNTILL YOU HAVE A CHARGED HOSELINE IN PLACE!

All shifts also need to watch the following videos on GFDTraining @Youtube in fire behavior channel.

• New vs Old Room Fire Final UL video

• Room Flashover Videos.mpg video

• Backdraft in Vermont video

• Horizontal Ventilation Prop: Live fire burn video

• Fireground Size-Up and How to Read Smoke video

Material for this outline was taken from:

1. http://www.nist.gov/fire/fire_behavior.cfm 2. http://thecompanyofficer.com/2011/05/01/tactical-patience-and-the-new-

considerations-of-ventilation-on-fire-behavior-in-legacy-and-contemporary-residential-construction/

http://www.nist.gov/fire/fire_behavior.cfm�

http://thecompanyofficer.com/2011/05/01/tactical-patience-and-the-new-considerations-of-ventilation-on-fire-behavior-in-legacy-and-contemporary-residential-construction/�



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Doffing Superheated Turnout Gearby Patrick L. Brown

From the 2008 personal protective equipment e-Newsletter, sponsored by

A recent survey by Fire Engineering revealed that a vast majority of firefighters have received little if any training regarding the doffing of superheated turnout gear. This finding is very troublesome, because improper doffing of this turnout gear can cause significant injuries to the firefighter wearing the gear. How do you handle a firefighter encapsulated within superheated turnout gear? Before I answer this question, let me explain how turnout gear works.

How the Gear Works

Turnout gear is comprised of three separate components: the outer shell, the moisture barrier, and the thermal liner.

Outer shell. This provides resistance to flame and heat plus protects the remainder of the gear from rips, tears, and abrasions.

Moisture barrier. This provides some thermal protection because it does have some insulating value, but its most important tasks are preventing fluids from entering the gear while still allowing perspiration out. These tasks are vital to the performance of the gear and to the safety of the firefighter. Water must be kept out to prevent the saturation of the thermal layer. The moisture barrier must also allow body heat and perspiration to escape to reduce the firefighter's rate of metabolic heat buildup. Excessive heat buildup can lead to stress-related injuries for firefighters.

Thermal layer. This blocks the transfer of heat from the fire to the firefighter, accomplished through air pockets within the thermal layer. These pockets of air are poor conductors of heat. It is important to note that the insulating

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factors of air can be disrupted by moisture and compression. Moisture displaces the air in the air pockets and is a very good conductor of heat. Compression forces out the air in the air pockets, which allows the unimpeded conduction of heat.

As you can see, each component is vital to the performance of the turnout gear; one component is no more important than the next. The components work together and frequently provide more protection as a single unit than the sum of the three parts added together.

How We Know Gear Will Perform Correctly

Now that we understand how turnout gear works, how do we know it is going to perform correctly? Each turnout gear design is independently tested to see if it meets the minimum standards of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protection Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. Many values are tested but the ones we will focus on are Flame and Heat Resistance, Thermal Protective Performance (TPP), Total Heat Loss (THL), and Conductive and Compressive Heat Resistance (CCHR).

Flame Resistance is tested by suspending materials that make up the gear in a Bunsen burner flame for 12 seconds. The material is then removed and the time the gear continues to burn is noted. This time represents the "After Flame Time." NFPA 1971 states that materials that make up our gear cannot have an "After Flame Time" of more than two seconds. The materials are also examined for the distance the item is damaged by the fire. This is noted as the "Char Length." The maximum "Char Length" per the 1971standard is four inches.

Heat Resistance is evaluated by placing the materials that make up the gear in a special 500ºF oven for five minutes. The materials that make up the gear are then examined for any signs of ignition, melting, dripping, or separation. None of these conditions is acceptable according to the standard, plus the materials cannot exhibit shrinkage of greater than 10 percent.

Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) represents how well the gear protects the skin from a second-degree burn in flashover situations. This test is performed by placing the three composite layers of the gear in a simulator. Below the layers are a radiant heat source and a convective flame; above the layers is a sensor. Heat transfer and time are noted and compared with a graph showing the blister point of skin. The rating is then derived from this information. The minimum TPP rating according to the NFPA standard is 35. Dividing the TPP rating in half provides roughly the number of seconds until a second-degree burn is sustained. Thus, a TPP rating of 35 provides about 17.5 seconds in a flashover situation before the firefighter receives a second-degree burn. It is important to note that moisture may significantly reduce this number, plus this rating does not take into account any heat retained in the gear prior to the flashover scenario. There is presently no optimized lab test method available for evaluating TPP in prolonged exposure to lower-level radiant heat or for assessing the effects of moisture on the TPP rating of our gear.

Total Heat Loss (THL) assesses the breathability of turnout gear. This is a very important value because the buildup of body heat under turnout gear is very damaging to the body, especially the cardiovascular system. A large number of firefighter fatalities each year are the result of stress-related injuries, namely strokes and heart attacks. Our turnout gear needs to breathe to allow this buildup of heat out. Breathability is so important that the recent revision of NFPA 1971 increased the THL requirement by 50 percent. THL is determined using a "sweating hot plate test." The three layers that make up your turnout gear are placed on a hot plate and a "dry thermal resistance measurement" is taken. Water is then added and an "apparent evaporative thermal resistance measurement" is taken. The measurements are put into an equation and the result is the THL value. The minimum THL rating per NFPA is 205 w/sq. meter. A higher THL represents better breathability. It is important to note that TPP and THL have an inverse relationship. If you increase the TPP rating, you will decrease the THL, and vice versa.

Conductive and Compressive Heat Resistance (CCHR). This standard requires that areas of compression (shoulders and knees) provide the same level of protection as the rest of the turnout gear. This standard is tested with the gear dry and wet on a plate heated to 500ºF. The shoulder portion of the gear is placed on the plate under two psi of pressure (representing the shoulder straps of an SCBA) for 25 seconds. The same is done for the knees but with eight psi of pressure (representing the force a 180-pound firefighter would exert on the knee while kneeling). The shoulders and knees must maintain the same rating as the rest of the gear.

The importance of properly performing turnout gear cannot be overstated.

Why the Environment Is Hotter



Firefighters today face challenges that our forefathers rarely, if ever, encountered. Furniture of the past was stuffed with cotton and horse hair, which had a low heat release rate compared with today's furniture, which is stuffed with synthetic foam. The chairs of the past had a peak heat release rate of about 225 kW. Today's chairs have a peak heat release rate of more than 2,100 kW. The average size family room requires about 1,000 kW before flashover occurs. That being said, the heat release from a modern chair stuffed with synthetic foam will quickly lead to flashover, while the chair from the past stuffed with cotton or horse hair will not produce the same result.

Home fires today are much hotter than fires of the past because homes are filled with items made of similar synthetic materials. Fires today are also hotter because homes are bottled up and better insulated than homes of the past. Today's hotter fires burn while the toxic and highly volatile products of combustion build. There is no place for the heat to go, so the room temperature rises.

We also get to fires much earlier today. In the past, the fire department often wasn't called until the fire was well developed. Today, because of smoke detectors and 911 services, we often get to the fire scene as the fire flashes over.

As firefighters, what do we do if we go into a fire just as the room flashes over? Deputy Chief (Ret.) Vincent Dunn of the Fire Department of New York states the only way for a firefighter to survive a flashover is to get out of the room. He states the point of no return is five feet inside the room. Five feet provides you with a few seconds to get out of the superheated environment. But surviving the flashover doesn't mean everything is now okay. The cool air you are accustomed to breathing from your SCBA has now been heated and is now warm. Every movement is accompanied by burning pain because your turnout gear has been pushed to its limits. It has absorbed all the heat it can and is now off-gassing. You need to get out of the building.

The actions of your fellow firefighters as you exit the building will determine the extent of your injuries. If your fellow firefighters see your turnout gear smoking as you exit the building and turn a hoseline on you to help "cool you down," it is very likely that you will sustain some burns. The water being applied to the superheated turnout gear will likely steam and cause steam burns. In addition, the water is going to disrupt the off-gassing process. This will cause the heat, which was once being off-gassed, to be driven back into the turnout gear, where it will likely steam any moisture in our thermal layer or further heat up the thermal layer. The end result would be the firefighter suffering burns.

I recently heard of a case in which a firefighter came out of a structure after an encounter with a superheated environment. The firefighter was calling out for help because he felt he was burning up. Fellow firefighters came to his aid and started to pat him down while he was in his gear. These firefighters, unknowingly through their actions, pushed the superheated air out of the air pockets of the thermal layer and onto the skin of the distressed firefighter, causing significant burns.

How to Remove Superheated Gear

What is the proper way to assist a firefighter encapsulated in superheated turnout gear? My discussions with turnout gear representatives have led me to this conclusion: Don't hose down the firefighter! Don't pat him down and don't roll him on the ground! The most important thing to do is to get the superheated turnout gear off of the firefighter.

If you are the firefighter trapped within this superheated gear and there is no assistance available, you must economize your movements while trying to prevent compression of your turnout gear as you doff your gear. With gloved hands, loosen the shoulder straps of your SCBA (photos 1).



(1) Photos by author. Click to enlarge

Next start to open the storm flap from the top down while unzipping or unclasping the turnout coat (photos 2, 3).

(2) Click to enlarge




On the way down, unbuckle the SCBA waist belt (photo 4), then unclasp and open your turnout pants (photo 5).





Open the coat wide (photo 6) and roll it and the SCBA off of your shoulders and down your arms (photo 7).





When the coat is down to the wrist area, you can then bend over to step on and remove the gloves, then step on the coat and remove it the rest of the way (photos 8, 9).





The coat should be inside out at this point. You can now remove the suspenders from you shoulders (photo 10) and let the pants fall as far as they can (photo 11).





Pull one foot out of your boot, then completely out of that pant leg (photo 12).


Repeat the procedure on the other boot and pant leg (photo 13).




Though not optimum, the described method will allow you to remove your gear, with limited injury.

If you are a firefighter who sees another firefighter encapsulated within superheated gear, you must quickly assist him with turnout gear removal. Instruct the encapsulated firefighter to try and stand still to prevent injury. With gloved hands, loosen the SCBA shoulder straps, open the storm flap, and unzip or unclasp the coat. Open the coat wide and roll it and the SCBA over the shoulders and down the arms. Remove the gloves and complete the removal of the coat. Now unclasp and open the pants, remove the suspenders from the shoulders, and let the pants fall. Roll the pants over the boots, and assist with boot removal like standard doffing procedures.

Though unlikely, if the zipper or clasps on the coat have melted or are inoperable, you will need to cut the turnout coat off of the firefighter. With a pair of trauma shears, cut the fabric tape to either side of the zipper. If the coat is equipped with clasps, you are going to have to cut through the coat. Yes, this will destroy the coat, but if it has sustained enough heat damage to melt the zipper or clasps, the coat is not likely to be serviceable any longer. Remember, the best thing to do for a firefighter encapsulated within superheated turnout gear is to properly doff the gear. . The increased use of synthetic materials means fires will continue to burn hotter and, because of the ever-increasing cost of energy, buildings will be built tighter and tighter. It seems very apparent that firefighters are going to encounter more flashovers and more superheated environments. We owe it to each other to know how to properly doff a firefighter encapsulated in superheated turnout gear.

References

Dunn, Vincent. Safety and Survival on the Fireground (Fire Engineering, 1992).

Kutlu, Bengi and Aysun Cireli. "Thermal Analysis and Performance Properties of Thermal Protective Clothing," Fibers and Textiles, July/Sept. 2005.

Lawson, J. Randall. "Firefighter Protective Clothing and Thermal Environments of Structural Firefighting," National Institute of Standards and Technology, August 1996.

Lawson, J. Randall et al. "Estimates of Thermal Properties of Firefighter Protective Clothing Material," National Institute of Standards and Technology, June 2005.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971-2007, Standard on Protection Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. Stull, Jeffrey O. "Understanding Key Turnout Gear Tests," FireRescue1.com, 2007.

Patrick L. Brown is a firefighter and paramedic with the Chicago (IL) Fire Department. He is a state-certified firefighter III, fire officer I, and instructor II as well as a licensed registered nurse specializing in emergency medicine and trauma.



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Forcible Entry

Prepared by Training Officer John Shafer Objectives: 1) Review the Definition of Forcible Entry 2) Review the Four Basic Types of Forcible Entry Tools 3) Review the Rule of Thumb for Forcible Entry 4) Review Forcible Entry through Doors 5) Review Forcible Entry through Windows 6) All shifts watch the videos assigned Introduction:

The threat of fire to life and property has been a perplexing problem since mankind first discovered fire. Because protection of life is the most important objective in any fire fighting operation, gaining entrance to a building is an essential tactical aspect of fire fighting strategy. Interior access is essential to searching the premises for occupants, as well as to providing the base for a strong interior attack of the fire.

1) Definition of Forcible Entry: Forcible entry is the technique used by fire department personnel to gain

access to a structure whose normal means of access is locked, blocked, or nonexistent. Forcible entry techniques, when properly used, do a minimal amount of damage to the structure or structural components and provide quick access for firefighters. Forcible entry should not be used when normal means of access are readily available.

2) Review the Four Basic Types Of Forcible Entry Tools: Cutting tools Prying tools Pushing/Pulling tools Striking tools

Cutting Tools There are many different types of cutting tools. These tools are often specific to

the types of materials they can cut and how fast they can cut them. Cutting tools may be either manual or powered.

Prying Tools Prying tools provide an advantage to the firefighter for opening doors, windows,

locks, and moving heavy objects. Hand (manual) prying tools use the basic principle of the lever to provide a mechanical advantage.

Hydraulic prying tools can be either powered hydraulic or manual hydraulic. Powered hydraulic tools receive their power from hydraulic fluid pumped through special high-pressure hoses.

Pushing/Pulling Tools Another category of tools available for forcible entry use is the push/pull

category. These tools have limited use in forcible entry, but in certain instances, such as breaking glass and opening walls or ceilings, they are the tools of choice.

Striking Tools

3) Rule of Thumb for Forcible Entry: You Must Always Try Before You Pry!

4) Forcible Entry through Doors:

1. Commercial Occupancies: Front 1. Almost easier to force entry through front door than rear

1. In older buildings, front door might be constructed of wood or wood frame with ordinary glass

2. In modern structures, front door made of tempered glass or heavy plate glass in strong frame

3. Rear doors usually made of steel or reinforced with steel 4. Front door protected by metal shutters, accordion-type barred

grating, or similar devices 2. Tempered-glass doors

1. For all practical purposes tempered glass cannot be broken 2. Attack at lock or find some other means of entry

3. Locks usually cylinder type located at middle or both of door 4. Double tempered door locks located in middle 5. Use lock puller to remove lock 6. If lock puller not available, drive chisel end of pry bar between

lock and frame or between two sections to force open 7. Alternative method is to drive bar into space above lock and

then dive down to destroy locking pins 8. For bottom locks, drive tool under door to displace keeper 9. Hydraulic tools can be used to force apart double doors or

raise lock at bottom 10. Quickest way may be to force plate glass window near

tempered glass door 11. If tempered glass door must be broken, strike at lower corner

of door with pick end of axe 3. Heavy plate-glass doors

1. Treat same as tempered-glass doors 2. Usually has bar across center or lower center of door 3. Better to remove or force lock or enter nearby plate glass

window 4. Wooden doors

1. May or may not have cylinder locks 2. Usually has bolts that engage keepers at top or bottom of door

or both 3. Double doors can be bolted to each other; pulling or forcing

lock does not guarantee entry 4. May have center panels which can be broken out for entry or

opening door 2. Commercial Occupancies: Rear

1. Steel doors 1. Before attempting to force, checked for exposed locks or

hinges 2. If lock can be seen, drive pry tool between door and frame and

force open 3. If hinges exposed, pull hinge pins or drive tool between hinge

and door facing 4. Doors with neither lock nor hinges exposed cannot be forced

with standard tools 5. Doors may be secured with a steel bar or fox lock 6. Door that cannot be forced can be cut open with power saw 7. Heavy steel door can be opened with battering ram 8. Door with fox lock practically impossible to force - look for

alternative entry 9. If door with fox lock must be forced, use explosive charge

2. Roll-up doors 1. Doors opening upward might be locked in several ways 2. Some, usually wood, locked with modified fox lock - open by

knocking out panel and reaching in to rotate handle 3. Wooden door might be secured with pins from sides of door to

track - door should be pried at bottom 4. Ring on door may be padlocked to ring set into floor - force

with tool under door against ring 5. Wood doors can be cut with power saw or axe 6. Metal doors do not usually have built-in locks - can be

padlocked to floor or locked into their rails 7. Manually operated doors often locked through raising chain 8. Motorized door rigidly connected to operating mechanism 9. First step in forcing metal doors to pry it up at both sides 10. Force doors locked with pins or through chain by prying 11. If door must be opened, cut hole in door with power saw

3. Dwellings and Apartments 1. Locked residential structures more easily entered than commercial

structures 1. Front and rear doors usually same type and of light

construction 2. Often have one or more glass panes 3. Multiple-unit street doors at front often unlocked 4. Lobby door may be secured by electric lock

2. Apartment doors 1. Might have to open individual doors 2. In older buildings, doors made of wood - cylinder locks may

have been added 3. Frames of doors usually strong enough to support pry tool 4. In modern buildings, doors made of steel or wood covered with

steel - secured with cylinder locks and possibly one or more bolt-type locks

5. In some cases, hydraulic type smoke ejector hanger can be used to force door

6. If door frame constructed of light metal, might not support pry tool

3. Balcony doors 1. Sliding glass with cylinder locks or some bolting arrangement

holding at top and bottom 2. Bolts should be forced with available tools 3. If door particularly tough to force, drive pry tool between door

and framing 4. Two doors locked to each other can also be opened by driving

pry tool between doors 5. Avoid straining glass enough to break it 6. Break glass for entry only for immediate rescue or when glass

already stained or damaged by heat or smoke 7. When bar or rod holds sliding section, glass will have to be

broken 4. Office Buildings

1. Presents same problems as apartment house units 2. Age of building determines type of inside office door, unless remodeled

extensively 3. Most buildings open to street during day 4. Outside entrances usually similar to those found in stores of same

general age 5. Other Occupancies

1. Warehouses and factories 1. Usually have roll-up doors at loading platforms and heavy

wooden or steel pedestrian doors 2. Windows on lower floors may be barred 3. Usually surrounded by chain-link fences - may require forcing

padlock 4. Some occupancies protected at night by guard dogs

2. Combination occupancies - may present double entry problem with forcing first into building and then into individual units

5) Forcible Entry through Windows:

6. Double-Hung Windows 1. Window that allows simplest and quickest access to building

1. Forced by prying up bottom section at center of window If top section made of small panes, pane nearest lock can be removed and window unlocked

2. If must be used for entry and cannot be forced quickly, it should be completed knocked out

1. If at ground level, use axe or other appropriate tool 2. Above ground situations may be not be discovered until

window is reached 3. Remove all splinters of glass before going through

3. Position ladders upwind from windows 4. When time and/or fire does not permit use of tool, knock out window

with ladder 5. Glass panes may be replaced with unbreakable plastic panes

1. May be cut with power saw 2. With other than steel frame, knock out entire window frame 3. May have knock out panel which can be removed by striking

corner with pick of axe 7. Casement Windows

1. Window hinged vertically with moving part of window attached to crank

1. Window crank usually light 2. Window lock located in middle or bottom of window

2. Best way to open window is break out pane of glass, reach in and unlock window, and force it open with pry tool

3. If heat not intense, remove second pane to operate crank 4. Many casement windows too narrow to allow entry 5. Narrow windows often located at sides of large glass picture window

8. Other Windows 1. Design of some windows prevents use for quick access

1. Very heavy metal frames 2. Wire within glass 3. Horizontally hinged sections that swing out when window is

opened 4. Center swing-out sections surrounded by stationery glass

2. Some windows simply too small to allow entry 3. Large double-pane windows expensive to replace 4. Storm windows or screens must be removed before built-in windows

can be opened

Anatomy of a Window

6) Now all shifts watch the following videos on GFDTraining YouTube. • Watch all 13 videos in the Forcible Entry Channel on YouTube

7) All shifts practice forcing the training door at the training site. Note: Everyone needs to perform both the halligan position and the striking position while forcing the door. Note at least one of the evolutions should be done in full PPE with SCBA and mask on.

Fire Officer Role in Risk Management

Introduction: Because of their position in the organizational structure, company officers are responsible for their own health & safety and that of each firefighter in their company. This means that company officers must know the requirements of the applicable safety standards, the Greencastle Fire Departments SOGs, the potential threats to firefighter safety, and the means available to minimize those threats. Company Officers must give the safety of their personnel the highest priority! What is Risk Management? Risk management can be defined as the culture, processes, and structures that are directed towards the effective management of potential opportunities and adverse effects. Risk assessment involves estimating the level of risk – estimating the probability of an event occurring and the magnitude of effects if the event does occur. Essentially risk assessment lies at the heart of risk management, because it assists in providing the information required to respond to a potential risk.

The Greencastle Fire Department has completed an in-depth assessment of the potential risk that a firefighter may encounter; this assessment has been turned into a Written Risk Management Plan. This plan shall serve as the basis for rules, regulations, standard operating procedures, and policies geared primarily toward improving fire fighter safety and health. This plan is specifically established to: 1. Prevent and reduce exposure to accidents and injuries. 2. Reduce the severity of accidents and injuries that do occur. 3. Reduction of the probability of occupational fatalities, illness and disability on the part of the

Fire Department employees. As a company officer at GFD it is essential that you are familiar with this plan, and see that it is enforced. Risk Management is accomplished by SAFETY!

City of Greencastle Fire Department

Training Division

http://contamsites.landcareresearch.co.nz/glossary.htm#Qualitative risk assessment�

http://contamsites.landcareresearch.co.nz/risk_man_desc.htm�

Safety: Safety at Greencastle Fire Department can be broken into two categories:

1. Station Safety 2. Incident Safety

Station Safety: Use proper lifting techniques to prevent back injury. (Enforce It) Keep floors clean and free from slipping hazards such as loose items and spills. Watch your footing on stairs and uneven surfaces, and keep traffic areas free of tripping

hazards such as stretched electrical cords. Be sure that aisles are unobstructed and that stairs are well lighted. Maintain items such as handrails, slide poles, and slides in a safe condition. Store flammable liquids properly. Horseplay (Fire officer must exercise supervisory control to reduce the risk of injuries) Training (The Officer is responsible for ensuring that all training sessions is conducted as safely as

possible) Incident Safety: In order for a company officer to be able to operate safety at an incident they must first have a background of common causes of injury and death to firefighter. Injury Statistics

• 1,000 injuries for every fire fighter death – Sprains and strains largest number of injuries – Followed by cuts, bruises, bleeding, and wounds

• Most common activities performed when injuries occur: – Extinguishing fires and suppression support

LODD Leading Causes Heart Attacks

• Leading cause of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths – More likely to die from a heart attack while on duty than any other worker

• Related to the nature of the work – Periods of low activity followed by high stress and physical activity

• Prevention – Regular physicals and physical fitness

Motor Vehicle Accidents • Traumatic injuries are second leading cause of death

– 22% of annual line-of-duty deaths • Most common is responding in a personal vehicle • In 2003, more fire fighters died in MVAs than on the fireground • Many of these deaths could have been prevented through proper training and a change in

attitudes • Requiring wearing seat belts could save 10-15 fire fighter lives each year.

• Fire officers need to ensure that all of their crew members are belted in whenever their vehicle is in motion

Burns and Asphyxiation • Third leading cause of death • Inherent risk in the job • SCBA and protective clothing

– Designed to reduce the risk • Common scenarios include:

– Becoming lost – Being disoriented – Becoming trapped –

Operating in an IDLH Environment

• OSHA applies 29 CFR 1910.134 • NFPA defines IDLH environment as one that:

– Poses an immediate or delayed threat to life – Causes irreversible adverse health effects – Interferes with an individual’s ability to escape unaided from a hazardous

environment Two-in,Two-Out Rule

• Common term for OSHA requirements – A designated officer is in charge – At least 2 fire fighters enter together and remain in visual or voice contact of each

other at all times – At least 2 properly trained and equipped fire fighters must:

• Be positioned outside the IDLH environment • Account for the interior team • Remain capable of rescue of the interior team

Rapid Intervention Team • Directly related to two-in, two-out rule • NFPA 1561 defines RIT as:

– Minimum of 2 fully equipped personnel, standing by on site, in a ready state for immediate rescue of injured or trapped firefighting personnel

– This Must be a High Priority. Personnel Accountability

• Needed to track all fire fighters • Accountability systems typically provide:

– Identity of all personnel on scene – Identity of all personnel in hazard area – Quick accounting process for evacuation order – Process to ensure that personnel do not go unaccounted for – Standardized notification and reaction to a Mayday event

Situation Awareness • Maintaining a continual connection between the functions being performed by the

company and the overall situation • Requires:

– Staying oriented – Making observations – Providing and receiving updates – Listening to communications

– Conducting regular risk/benefit analysis • Conditions can change very quickly

– Crews might have no way of observing what is going on around them – Fire officer must always maintain the link between the immediate situation and the

overall incident situation Risk/Benefit Analysis

• Weighs the risks involved in a particular course of action against the benefits to be gained – “Risk a little to save a little, risk a lot to save a lot”

• Must always be approached in a structured and measured manner • Life safety is a paramount goal • No justification for:

– Risking the lives of fire fighters to save property that is already lost or has no real value

– Conducting an interior attack on a fire in an unoccupied abandoned building – Entering a burning building to search for missing occupants who could not

possibly be alive The only situation that truly justifies exposing fire fighters to a high level of risk is one in which there is a realistic chance that a life can be saved. Safety Systems:

• Incident Command System • Rehab

Mitigating Hazards

• Determine what the preferred and safer response or activity should be • Develop a action plan that has Safety as # 1 priority.

Postincident Analysis

• Includes pertinent information relating to safety and health issues involved with the incident

• Includes information about: – Use of protective clothing and equipment – Personnel accountability system – Rapid intervention crews – Rehabilitation operations – Other issues that directly affect the safety and welfare of members at the incident

scene Summary: Three Roles of the Fire Officer

• Identify unsafe and hazardous conditions • Mitigate or reduce as many problems as possible • Train and prepare for the remaining hazards

january 2012 training - fire training toolboxfiretrainingtoolbox.com/packet4.pdf · january 2012...

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