Fire Service Rescue (6th Edition)
Chapter 1 - Intro to Rescue Services
Test Review

What are the differences between rescues, recoveries, and extrications?

  • Rescue-removal of a viable victim from entrapment or entanglement.
  • Recovery-removal of a dead victim from entrapment or entanglement.
  • Extrication-removal of a victim entrapped or entangled in machinery.

What are the differences between basic patient assessment/primary treatment and basic life support/advanced life support?

  • Basic Patient Assessment/Primary Treatment consists of eliminating hazards that may further endanger the victim as well as packaging the patient for transport with limited treatment for life-threatening injuries.
  • Basic Life Support/Advanced Life Support consists of actual splinting and bandaging (BLS) and starting IV's, giving drugs, and advanced procedures (ALS).

What questions should be answered when performing a rescue needs assessment?

  • How often do rescues take place?
  • Are rescues more likely on a certain day of the week or time of the day?
  • Are the rescues simple or complex?
  • Are natural hazards (lakes, caves, cliffs) involved?
  • Are constructed areas (highways, railroads, large buildings) involved?
  • Which part of the fire district has the most rescues?
  • Are rescues more difficult in certain areas of the fire district?
  • What is the average response time for a well-equipped rescue company?
  • What is the potential for rescue? (extrication, aircraft, railroad, industrial, agricultural, structural collapse, cave-ins, elevated areas, water, subterranean, haz-mat)

What sources may be used to obtain rescue needs assessment information?

  • Fire Department alarm records.
  • Law enforcement agency records.
  • Local persons.
  • Local physicians.
  • Hospital administrators.
  • Local road supervisors (state, federal DOT).
  • Fire Department members and members in public industry (haz-mat).

What are the advantages of having a rescue unit on the fireground?

  • Rescue personnel can assist with routine truck operations such as forcible entry, ventilation, search, and control of utilities.
  • Special equipment carried on rescue apparatus, such as oxyacetylene torches, jackhammers, winches, and long-duration SCBA's, can prove useful.

What is the primary reason to have a rescue unit on a fire scene?

  • To rescue trapped or overcome firefighters.

What is the most common type of rescue?

  • Those involving transportation accidents on public roadways.

What factors regarding railroad rescues should a rescue unit look for when assessing rescue potential?

  • Number of rail lines in the area.
  • Types of train(s).
  • Condition of rails and roadbed.
  • Speeds at which the trains travel.
  • Means by which junctions are controlled.

What are some agricultural accidents may require rescue?

  • Vehicle rollovers.
  • People caught in machinery.
  • Grain bin entrapments.
  • Exposure to toxic gases, pesticides, or other agricultural chemicals.

What types of industrial equipment have the greatest potential for entrapment and injury?

  • Chain or screw conveyors.
  • Punch presses.
  • Woodworking equipment.

What types of buildings should be evaluated for potential structural collapse?

  • Inferior construction.
  • Old and deteriorating.

When do trench rescue situations most often result?

  • Loose, sandy soil.
  • Incorrect or careless actions.
  • Improperly stored piles of stone, sand, coal, or other materials.
  • Grain storage facilities.

What are some typical areas in which an elevated rescue might be needed?

  • Tall buildings.
  • Transmitter towers.
  • Elevated water storage tanks.
  • Elevators.
  • Canyons.
  • Cliffs.
  • Tall trees.

What elevator types should be identified in a rescue needs assessment?

  • Passenger, freight, and service elevators.
  • Large dumbwaiters.

What are some typical examples of confined spaces?

  • Empty storage tanks.
  • Silos.
  • Rail tank cars.
  • Utility manholes.
  • Wells.
  • Septic tanks.
  • Compost pits.
  • Mines.
  • Caves.

Why are low-head dams called "drowning machines?

  • Because when someone becomes trapped in the downwash, it is almost impossible for them to extricate themselves without assistance.

What hazards are associated with public utilities?

  • Confined spaces.
  • Trenches.
  • Hazardous atmospheres.
  • Elevated areas.

What part does a rescue unit play in hazardous materials incidents?

  • Being prepared by locating and identifying hazardous materials in the response district, noting amounts, location, and storage methods.

How can rescue units assist with the following?

Fire Response:

  • Should be assigned to all alarms.
  • Can employ specialized training, perform truck functions, or provide manpower.

Government Agencies:

  • Assist in investigation, emergency lighting, body recovery.

Private Sector:

  • Well suited to assist in extrication of vehicle accident victims and initial treatment.
  • Extremely valuable in mass-casualty incidents.

Emergency Medical Service:

  • Removal of people in trapped vehicles and similar situations.
  • Can assist in packaging patients and initial treatment.

Hospital Personnel:

  • Can assist hospital personnel on scene of extrication scenarios.

Air Operations:

  • Rescue units should work closely with air operations and know their limitations, capabilities, and should develop joint protocols.

Law Enforcement:

  • Joint protocols can be developed to assist in positioning apparatus to allow for barriers to oncoming traffic, routes for ambulance entry and exit, and to allow for continued traffic flow.

Utility Companies:

  • Joint protocols can be developed for dealing with emergency situations.
  • Guidelines should be adopted by both parties.

Water/Sewer Departments:

  • Rescue units can work with this agency to repair damaged fire hydrants and to facilitate rescues in reservoirs, holding ponds, sewers, storm drains, underground aqueducts, and trench collapses.

Gas Companies:

  • Rescue units should train with local companies in emergency shut-down procedures and techniques.

Why should ambulance crews and rescue units establish basic protocols for patient handling and know each other's capabilities?

  • Protocols will ensure that rescue crew operations do not interfere with patient care.
  • Knowing each other's capabilities will determine the actions and degree of treatment taken by each agency.

What are the limitations of helicopters in rescue operations?

Limitations include:

  • Response time.
  • Operating space requirements.
  • Communications difficulties.

Why should all downed lines be considered dangerous?

  • Downed cable or telephone lines may not be dangerous, however, they may be if in contact with electrical lines.

How can suppression units assist rescue units?

  • Control traffic.
  • Provide hoselines or foam for fire control.
  • Provide additional personnel and equipment.
  • Provide extra personnel trained in basic extrication and rescue techniques.

What are the keys to a successful rescue operation?

  • Adequate pre-incident planning.
  • Dispatching the appropriate number or properly trained and equipped rescue personnel.

What major factors influence staffing levels?

  • Type and level of service being provided.
  • Number of personnel available.

What are guidelines for volunteer personnel who respond to a rescue scene?

  • For efficiency and safety, a minimum and maximum number of personnel should be set to respond to any given incident.

What attributes must a rescuer possess to effect a successful rescue?

  • Knowledge of techniques available.
  • Skill to perform techniques.
  • Physical fitness to apply skills.
  • Judgment to decide which techniques to apply.

What dictates vehicle, equipment, and staffing needs for a given district?

  • Type and level of service the district is committed to provide.

What are the differences between "in-house" and "outside" rescue training?

In-House Training:

  • Qualified trainers may provide training at the department level when properly trained to do so.

Outside Training:

  • Outside agencies at the local, state, or national level can provide certified training and are often better equipped to do so.

What basic theories should be learned in a classroom setting before utilizing hands-on training?

  • An incident command/management system.
  • Roles of the rescue unit.
  • Duties of the rescue unit.
  • General operating guidelines.
  • Familiarization with equipment.
  • Procedures for interacting with other organizations.

What is the importance of a post-exercise critique during training?

  • Enables personnel to analyze the strong and weak points of the operation and to identify areas for further training.

Fire Service Rescue (6th Edition)
Chapter 2-Rescue Scene Management
Test Review

What is the importance of effectively handling the initial response?

  • It maximizes efficiency in organizing the rescue scene.

What elements should be included in a predetermined standardized response of a rescue unit?

  • Obtaining the exact location.
  • Emergency medical services needed.
  • Rescue and extrication capabilities needed.
  • Fire protection needed.
  • Law enforcement and other agencies needed.

What are the major functions of the incident commander?

  • Making decisions.
  • Managing resources.

How can rescue workers develop confidence and mental toughness required for rescue operations?

  • Realistic drills and simulations.

What is the IC's first priority in regards to safety?

  • Rescuer safety (second is victim safety).

What factors determine how the command/management system is implemented?

  • Staffing levels.
  • Equipment availability.
  • General operating guidelines.

When should a formal command post be established?

  • The first-arriving emergency vehicle should be established as the command post until it is determined that a formal command post be established.
  • A formal CP should be established when the incident involves multiple units and it appears that the incident will be a protracted operation.

What scene evaluation questions should be asked by the first-arriving rescuer on scene?

  • What has occurred?
  • What is the current victim(s) status?
  • Is the situation stable or getting worse?
  • Can rescue be handled by resources on scene or en route?

What should the first-arriving company do if not equipped to start a rescue?

  • Do whatever possible including cordoning off area and isolating any witnesses to the accident.

What are the decision making steps for a rescue operation?

  • Gather facts.
  • Identify problem.
  • Develop a strategy.
  • Consider alternatives.
  • Choose and implement tactics.
  • Evaluate progress.

What are the main points of the Phoenix decision-making Model?

  • Each emergency response is begun with the assumption that they "can protect lives and property."
  • They will "risk their lives a lot, if necessary, to save savable lives."
  • They will "risk their lives a little, and in a calculated manner, to save savable property."
  • They will "NOT risk their lives at all to save lives and property that have already been lost."

What types of experts may be needed by an IC?

  • Structural or mechanical engineers.
  • Chemists or hazardous materials specialists.
  • Railroad officials.
  • Farmers or agricultural extension agents.
  • Industrial plant maintenance or engineering personnel.
  • Elevator mechanics or building engineers.
  • Mine or cave rescue experts.

What is the general rule for employing the levels of management in the incident command/management system?

  • Only the parts of the system that are needed to handle the incident safely and efficiently should be implemented.

What common elements are included in every rescue system?

  • Scene assessment.
  • Establishing command and control.

What is meant by scene assessment?

  • Assess the needs and future needs to complete the incident including staffing, equipment, and vehicles.

What are the most common groups/sectors in an incident command/management system?

  • Rescue.
  • Triage/treatment.
  • Transportations.

How can position specialists be identified at a rescue scene?

  • Wearing colored vests with labeled positions and establishing an easily identified command post.

What are the basic responsibilities of the rescue group/sector?

  • Determine number, location, and condition of victim(s).
  • Evaluate resources required.
  • Determine whether treatment is to be provided on scene or away from scene.
  • Advise IC of resource requirements.
  • Allocate and supervise resources assigned to the rescue.
  • Report progress to IC (give "all-clear signal" when all victims have been removed).
  • Coordinate with other groups/sectors.

What are the basic responsibilities of the triage/treatment group/sector?

  • Triage victims and continually evaluate their condition.
  • Determine resources needed to treat/transport and advise IC.
  • Identify and establish treatment areas (immediate, delayed, minor) and advise IC of pick up points.
  • Determine transportation priorities and communicate with Transportation Group Supervisor and/or IC.
  • Maintain accurate record of victims and where they are transported to in the absence of a Transportation Group Supervisor.
  • Keep IC informed of progress/problems.
  • Coordinate with other groups/sectors.

What are the basic responsibilities of the transportation group/sector?

  • Determine transportation requirements (based on Triage/Treatment reports) and the availability of ambulances and other forms of transportation.
  • Report progress/problems to IC.
  • Identify ambulance staging/loading areas and helicopter landing zones, if necessary.
  • Verify victim-handling capabilities of the medical facilities receiving the victims.
  • Determine specific entry and exit locations from the triage/treatment area(s).
  • Coordinate the order of victim transportation and medical facility allocation with Treatment Group/Sector.
  • Maintain a record of where each victim is taken.
  • Establish a means of transporting ambulatory victims.
  • Coordinate with other groups/sectors.

What are appropriate landing sites for helicopters?

  • Parking lots.
  • Open fields.
  • Highways.
  • Median strips.
  • Other unobstructed areas at least 70 x 70 feet.

How does rescue apparatus placement differ in fire and non-fire situations?

Fire Situations:

  • Placement should be where the vehicle does not interfere with fire fighting operations but where equipment will be readily available.

Non-Fire Situations:

  • Positioned nearest the incident.

What are the guidelines for rescue apparatus placement?

  • Position between scene and oncoming traffic when on roadway.
  • Spot close enough to incident to make equipment removal easy.
  • Do not place apparatus to close where victim would be exposed to vehicle exhaust, vibration, or noise.
  • Place uphill and upwind when possible.
  • Keep vehicle away from downed power lines, damaged transformers, and escaping flammable gas.
  • Do no drive near open trenches (vibration may cause cave-in).
  • Do not block scene. Allow access for ambulance ,other emergency vehicles, and normal flow of traffic when possible.

What are the three operating zones?

Hot:

  • Area where rescue is taking place.
  • Only personnel dealing directly with treating or freeing the victim(s) are allowed.

Warm:

  • Immediately out of hot zone.
  • Area for personnel directly aiding rescuers in the hot zone.
  • Contains personnel handling hydraulic power plants, providing emergency lighting, and firefighters on standby hoselines.

Cold:

  • Surrounding the warm and hot zones.
  • Contains the command post, public information officer, staging for personnel and equipment.
  • Outer boundary is cordoned off from the public.

What are the procedures for evacuation?

Small Incident:

  • May be taken or go to an area of refuge or a home of a friend or family.

Large Incident:

  • May require the use of churches, schools, auditoriums, municipal buildings, or motels/hotels.
  • Cooperation of the previously mentioned facilities should be gained during pre-incident planning. Use of Red Cross and similar organizations can also be useful.

How should bystanders, relatives, and friends of victims be handled?

  • Bystanders should be restrained from getting to close.
  • Treat relatives and friends of victims gently but firmly restrained from getting too close and kept some distance from the scene, but within the cordoned area.

When should a Release of Liability form be used?

  • For anyone who refuses treatment or transportation.

What are the reasons for controlling uninjured persons at a rescue scene?

  • To keep from wandering the scene.
  • To keep uninjured persons from getting injured.
  • To provide a method of accounting for everyone involved in the incident.
  • To obtain information of those involved in the incident.
  • To separate witnesses from each other and influencing each other's stories.

When is it best to abandon rather than retrieve a piece of equipment?

  • When the rescue scene is too unstable and retrieving the equipment would put personnel at risk.
  • The cost of equipment may be recovered from the owner of the property.

What are the basic steps for releasing control of the scene back to the owner or responsible party?

  • The owner or responsible party should be escorted on a tour of the scene and be given an explanation of any remaining hazards.
  • If the scene is to hazardous to leave unattended, the owner may be required to post a security guard or erect a security fence around the hazard.

Fire Service Rescue (6th Edition)
Chapter 3-Rescue Vehicles & Equipment
Test Review

List the rescue characteristics of the following apparatus:

Type / Functions / Tools Carried / Rescue Capability / Design Specs / Personnel Capability
Light Rescue / First responder or rapid intervention / Basic hand tools & small equipment (lighting on some) / Basic rescue, extrication, & life support / Built on 1 or 1 1/2 ton chassis / 2 to 7 rescue team members
Medium Rescue / Hazardous materials, water rescue, bomb disposal, floodlight/power, special rescue / Basic hand tools, may carry hydraulic tools, pneumatic tools, cutting equipment, & ropes/rigging. (some carry fire fighting equipment) / Capable of handling majority of rescue incidents / Larger than a light rescue vehicle / 8 to 10 rescue team members
Heavy Rescue / Rescues on many types and some have fire fighting capabilities / Basic hand tools, booms, A-frames, gin poles, cascade systems, power plants, trenching/shoring equipment, small pumps & foam equipment, large winches, hydraulic booms, rope & rigging, air compressors, ladders / Capable of handling almost any rescue situation / Built on a large chassis / 12 or more team members
Rescue Pumper / Dual function: fire fighting and rescue / Fire fighting tools and rescue tools & equipment / Capable of most rescues / Vary in size depending on functions / depends on space
Standard Engine / Can be dual function: fire fighting and rescue / Fire fighting tools and some have rescue tools & equipment / Capable of light to medium rescues / Standard to modified Fire Department Engine / depends on space
Ladder Truck / Can be dual function: fire fighting and rescue / Fire fighting tools and some have rescue tools & equipment / Capable of light to medium rescues / Standard to modified Fire Department Ladder Truck / depends on space

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the following vehicle body designs?