Ch 9-11 Flashcards
(151 cards)
1
Q
What is meant by ‘reading firefighters’?
A
Observing firefighters to:
predict mistakes,
poor judgment,
exceeding abilities.
2
Q
What are the three stressors influencing overexertion?
A
Environmental, physiological, and rehabilitation quality.
3
Q
Name the three ergonomic stressors.
A
Physical setting, worker relationship to setting, task requirements.
4
Q
What is an ergonomic abatement strategy?
A
Awareness, accommodation, or acclimation.
5
Q
How does awareness mitigate ergonomic stress?
A
Informs workers of hazards, increasing cautiousness.
6
Q
What is an example of accommodation?
A
Using a roof ladder on a pitched roof.
7
Q
What is acclimation in the fire service?
A
Gradual adaptation to an environment through training.
8
Q
Why are incident scenes ergonomically challenging?
A
They lack an ergonomically friendly workplace.
9
Q
What does the physical setting include?
A
Surface conditions, temperature, equipment proximity, and lighting.
10
Q
How can task requirements cause injury?
A
High energy demands or limited staffing increase stress.
11
Q
What environmental factors influence thermal stress?
A
Ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, and thermal radiation.
12
Q
What is the ideal human core temperature?
A
98.6°F (37°C).
13
Q
When does thermal stress increase injury risk?
A
Core temperatures above 101°F or below 96°F.
14
Q
What is the primary mechanism to prevent heat stress?
A
Sweating (evaporative cooling).
15
Q
How does high humidity affect heat stress?
A
Reduces sweat evaporation, increasing core temperature.
16
Q
What tool does NOAA provide for heat stress?
A
Heat stress index and exposure charts.
17
Q
What is a sign of heat stress?
A
Fatigue or reduced mental alertness.
18
Q
What is frostnip?
A
A local cold injury with pale skin and loss of sensation.
19
Q
What characterizes frostbite?
A
Freezing of skin tissue, appearing whitish or bluish-white.
20
Q
What is hypothermia?
A
Core temperature below 95°F, causing shivering and confusion.
21
Q
How does moisture affect cold stress?
A
Wicks away heat, accelerating frostbite and hypothermia.
22
Q
What is a method to fight thermal stress?
A
Crew rotation to minimize exposure.
23
Q
What are the three essential cell ingredients?
A
Oxygen, water, and fuel (glucose).
24
Q
How does carbon monoxide affect firefighters?
A
Interferes with oxygen intake, risking cardiac events.
25
Why is hydration critical for firefighters?
Prevents fatigue, cramps, and medical emergencies.
26
How much water should firefighters drink hourly?
One quart, in 4-8 oz increments every 15-20 minutes.
27
What replaces electrolytes during prolonged work?
Sports drinks like Gatorade.
28
Why are energy drinks banned in some fire departments?
They increase dehydration and heart rate.
29
What is the role of coffee in hydration?
One cup may improve alertness with minimal dehydration.
30
What is a low-glycemic-index food?
Provides stable blood sugar, e.g., apples or beans.
31
Why avoid high-glycemic-index foods?
They spike blood sugar, causing insulin surges.
32
What is the REHAB mnemonic?
Rest, Energy, Hydration, Accommodation, BLS care.
33
What does 'Rest' mean in REHAB?
Recover stable vital signs.
34
What is included in 'Energy' for REHAB?
Nutrition and electrolyte replacement.
35
How does the ISO assess rehab?
Monitors effectiveness, not setup.
36
What did the Orange County Fire Authority study find?
Active cooling is 50-60% more effective than passive.
37
What is active cooling?
Using external methods like forearm immersion to lower core temperature.
38
What was the average core temperature post-drill?
101.8°F (38.8°C).
39
Which cooling method was most effective?
Forearm immersion, reducing core temperature by 1.22°F.
40
Why are tympanic readings unreliable?
They drop significantly lower than core temperature.
41
What is a physiological stressor example?
Dehydration affecting cell performance.
42
How does PPE affect heat stress?
Reduces evaporative cooling, raising core temperature.
43
What is work hardening?
Strength, flexibility, and aerobic training to resist overexertion.
44
What is anaerobic fitness?
Rapid bursts of muscle and oxygen use, e.g., weightlifting.
45
Why is acclimation difficult at incidents?
It’s typically proactive and gradual.
46
What is a sign of mild hypothermia?
Uncontrolled shivering and loss of concentration.
47
How does cold stress affect firefighters?
Rapid core temperature drop in wet conditions.
48
What is the ISO’s role in thermal stress?
Predict and prevent injuries using NOAA charts.
49
Why is fuel replacement important?
Prevents energy depletion and mental lapses.
50
What is circadian rhythm?
Physiological response to the 24-hour clock.
51
How does the ISO prevent overexertion?
Assess stressors and implement mitigation strategies.
52
What is a cold stress prevention method?
Drying PPE to reduce heat loss.
53
Why is overexertion the leading injury cause?
Firefighting demands peak performance without warmup.
54
What is the purpose of a systematic ISO approach?
Address all duties effectively, avoiding mediocrity.
55
What are the two common ISO approaches?
Checklists and action models.
56
What is a disadvantage of checklists?
May imply tasks are one-time, not cyclic.
57
What is cyclic thinking?
Remaining open to multiple inputs, avoiding linear traps.
58
What is the Dodson/Vavra ISO Action Model?
A four-arena cyclic model for incident analysis.
59
What does MEDIC stand for in the ISO role?
Monitor, Evaluate, Develop, Intervene, Communicate.
60
What is the ISO’s role in monitoring?
Conduct recon to survey incident conditions and activities.
61
What conditions are monitored by the ISO?
Weather, hazardous energy, building collapse, fire/smoke.
62
What activities does the ISO monitor?
Firefighter actions, victim/bystander behavior, apparatus placement.
63
What is evaluated in the MEDIC model?
Risk-taking, safety systems, hazard status, IAP fit.
64
What is a preventive measure?
Proactive action for forecasted hazards, e.g., zoning.
65
What is a firm intervention?
Direct order to stop or withdraw due to imminent threats.
66
How does the ISO communicate?
Via radio, signs, whistles, or safety briefings.
67
What are the four ISO arrival steps?
Confirm assignment, collect info, confirm comms, don PPE.
68
What is an incident benchmark?
Key phrase signaling tactical objective completion, e.g., '360 complete'.
69
What is the low risk profile per NFPA 1500?
No risk when no lives or property can be saved.
70
What is freelancing?
Working outside IAP or out of sight/voice range.
71
Why is freelancing dangerous?
Increases risk of unnoticed emergencies or injuries.
72
What is a personnel accountability system?
Tracks responders by number, function, and location.
73
Why are informal accountability systems risky?
Lack formal tracking, leading to potential fatalities.
74
What is a hot zone?
IDLH area requiring PPE, RIC, and accountability.
75
What color tape marks a no-entry zone?
Red and white chevron or diagonal-striped.
76
How is a warm zone used?
For support operations, decontamination, and RIC standby.
77
What is the ISO’s role in control zones?
Establish, adjust, and mark zones to protect responders.
78
In the alligator case, what was a safety issue?
Crews attempting to catch alligators for photos.
79
What type is an escalated incident past local level?
Type 3.
80
What does 'D' in MEDIC stand for?
Develop preventive measures.
81
How does the ISO prevent input saturation?
Uses cyclic thinking to manage multiple inputs.
82
What is a risk profile example?
High risk for saving lives, low for lost property.
83
Why monitor rehab effectiveness?
Ensures rest, hydration, and cooling meet NFPA 1584.
84
What is a consequence of poor accountability?
Delayed recognition of a missing firefighter.
85
How are control zones communicated?
Via radio, tape, signs, or sentries.
86
What is the ISO’s role in risk-taking?
Confirm and evaluate the IC’s declared risk profile.
87
Why was the South Canyon fire tragic?
Linear thinking underestimated escalating hazards.
88
What is a cyclic thinking benefit?
Keeps ISO open to changing incident conditions.
89
How does the ISO use recon?
To identify conditions and activities needing evaluation.
90
What is a soft intervention?
Face-to-face communication for potential hazards.
91
Why is the ISO tracked in accountability?
Ensures safety and team compliance.
92
What is a control zone marking alternative?
Using law enforcement to restrict access.
93
How does the ISO address freelancing?
Monitors crews and intervenes if outside IAP.
94
What is the purpose of a 360 complete benchmark?
Establishes the initial risk profile.
95
Why are checklists adaptable?
Can be customized for local variables.
96
What is the ISO’s role in communication?
Listen actively and contribute positively.
97
How does the ISO support the IC?
Provides recon and hazard evaluations.
98
What is a hazard control zone example?
A collapse zone marked as no-entry.
99
Why is the MEDIC model effective?
Balances proactive and reactive ISO duties.
100
What is the ISO’s role in planned events?
Monitor safety and ensure compliance with plans.
101
How does the ISO handle unplanned events?
React to dynamic hazards with cyclic evaluations.
102
What is a personnel safety system component?
Accountability, rehab, PPE, or RIC.
103
Why is the ISO’s role cyclic?
Requires revisiting conditions to catch changing hazards.
104
In the alligator case, who should be consulted?
Wildlife experts or local authorities.
105
What intervention addresses animal encounters?
Awareness training and no-entry zones.
106
How does the ISO evaluate IAP fit?
Compares plan to recon findings for safety.
107
What is a benefit of action models?
Flexibility to process multiple inputs cyclically.
108
What is a safety trigger?
An approach to remind firefighters to be situationally aware and act safely.
109
Name two passive safety triggers.
Being visible and setting an example.
110
What is a passive trigger example?
Wearing a high-visibility 'SAFETY' vest.
111
How does being visible trigger safe behavior?
Prompts self-correction, like putting on gloves.
112
What color is associated with safety vests?
Green, per National Safety Council standards.
113
Why set an example as an ISO?
Influences safe behavior through habits and discipline.
114
What guideline should a lone ISO follow?
Always be in sight of another responder.
115
What is a soft intervention?
Suggestive communication to modify actions for potential threats.
116
What is an imminent threat?
A danger so urgent it requires immediate action.
117
What is a firm intervention?
A direct order to stop or withdraw due to an imminent threat.
118
How should a firm intervention be communicated?
Via radio with 'urgent' or 'emergency traffic' preface.
119
What must follow a firm intervention?
Immediate notification to the IC via radio.
120
What are the three ISO traps?
Bunker cop, CYA, and worker.
121
What is the bunker cop trap?
Focusing too much on PPE issues, missing the big picture.
122
How does the bunker cop trap affect ISOs?
Alienates firefighters, undermining the ISO program.
123
What is the CYA trap?
Overemphasizing regulations to avoid personal liability.
124
Why is the CYA trap ineffective?
Firefighters dismiss it as self-preservation, not safety concern.
125
What is the worker trap?
ISO performing tactical tasks, losing mobility and focus.
126
Why avoid the worker trap?
ISO must stay observant to see the big picture.
127
Who is ultimately responsible for incident safety?
The Incident Commander (IC).
128
Where does the ISO fit in the ICS?
Command staff, reporting directly to the IC.
129
What are the two primary ISO communication tools?
Radio and face-to-face.
130
How often should the ISO meet the IC face-to-face?
Every 15 minutes for routine incidents.
131
What are three communication barriers?
Equipment issues, human factors, administrative controls.
132
Name a communication barrier indicator.
Incomplete or fractured radio messages.
133
What does excessive feedback indicate?
Human factor issues, like sensitive microphones.
134
How should the ISO handle too much communication?
Suggest a tactical time-out to the IC.
135
What is a solution-orientation approach?
Presenting a problem with a solution to the IC.
136
What are the steps of a solution-orientation approach?
State observation, a judgment, and a solution,
then ask IC’s opinion.
137
What is an IAP?
A plan outlining strategy, tactics, risk, and safety objectives.
138
Which IAP components does the ISO monitor?
Risk management level and safety hazards.
139
Why is the IAP critical for the ISO?
Guides risk-taking evaluation during recon.
140
What form is used for a simple written IAP?
ICS 201: Incident Briefing.
141
What is the ISO’s role in a complex IAP?
Prepare forms like ICS 208 and 215A.
142
When should an ISO request an ASO?
For large, complex, or high-risk incidents.
143
What is an ASO’s role in hazmat incidents?
Provide technician-level expertise as ASO-HM.
144
Why transfer ISO duties?
For complexity, rest, or agency handover.
145
What does 'M' in MEDIC transfer stand for?
Monitoring issues, like recent recon.
146
What information is shared in ISO transfer?
Monitoring, evaluations, measures, interventions, comms.
147
What is a Type 5 incident?
Local event handled with local resources.
148
What defines a Type 3 incident?
Regional event requiring a written IAP.
149
What is a Type 1 incident?
Most complex, with all ICS positions activated.
150
Who fills the SOF1 role in Type 1 incidents?
A pre-trained IMT safety officer.
151
What does an SOFR do?
"Acts as an ASO, monitoring field
