Following are the Tupelo Fire Department guidelines for wearing protective clothing. These policies apply to all members whether line or staff. Only protective clothing items supplied by the Tupelo Fire Department shall be worn, unless approved by the Chief of the Department and the Safety Officer.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING DEFINED:
* Helmet with shield (special provisions may be made for special operations or Chief Officers)Full protective clothing shall worn when responding to and working inside the Incident Perimeter as defined in SOG 5.6 at emergency incidents. Exceptions are drivers or fire fighters operating equipment in an area where their safety will not be affected. This exception is left to the discretion of the Incident Commander.
* Protective hood tucked into collar
* Protective coat with collar turned up
* Protective pants
* Boots
* Gloves
* PASS Device
* SCBA (where indicated in SOG)
* PASSPORT System
Protective hoods must be utilized (protecting head, neck, and ears) when SCBA facepiece is in place, using air. The tail of the hood must be placed inside the neck of the coat. Protective hoods must be readily available (on person) when SCBA is being worn and ready for use.
Faceshields/goggles must be utilized any time the need for eye protection seems apparent, and SCBA is not being utilized, such as during overhaul, when operating hand or power tools, etc.
Gloves must be worn when engaged in training/working with hose and ladders, when using hand or power tools, and other situations where injuries to the hand are likely to occur.
In specific situations for which no guidelines have been provided, the proper protective clothing, to protect against all foreseeable hazards, must be worn.
The use of protective coat, hood, and SCBA during lengthy overhaul operations, with a safe atmosphere, will be at the discretion of a Safety Officer or each company officer if a Safety Officer is not on the scene.
The following protective clothing shall be worn by firefighting personnel while responding to all fire alarms:
* Protective coatDrivers and Command personnel should dress so that they can safely control their apparatus/vehicle.
* Protective pants
* Helmet (If riding in an unenclosed position)
If in quarters, all members shall dress accordingly, prior to response.
Out of quarters responses may require personnel to dress prior to response or at the fire scene. At no time should members remove their seat belts to dress while responding. The company officer should maintain an awareness of these types of situations and all members to dress properly prior to engaging in firefighting activities.
Company officers may use their discretion to regulate this in terms of unusual circumstances such as extremely long responses, or when it appears inevitable that the company officer will assume Command, extreme environmental conditions, etc.
It is the intent of this guideline that no member shall cause a delay in any firefighting operation by not being fully prepared to engage in firefighting activities in a safe manner, upon arrival.
Protective clothing (coats and pants) is designed in a three layer system: The outer shell (nomex), the moisture barrier (Gortex), and the inner thermal barrier. A common misconception on the part of many firefighters is that the inner thermal barrier is a "winter liner". The inner thermal barrier is not a winter liner, it a vital layer in your protective clothing system.
Under no circumstances should the inner thermal barrier be removed from your protective clothing. This is considered a major violation of the Department's Safety Policies.
All Company Commanders should inspect their company's protective clothing for defects and wear weekly, and request replacement immediately for hazardous defects.
All units of the Emergency Services Division has been issued Personal Protective Equipment Kits (PPE). These kits consist of:
* Impervious gownsIt is imperative that first responders realize that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial to the on going safety of the members of the Tupelo Fire Department when responding to automobile accidents and/or medical calls. In evaluating the importance of PPE, emergency responders must weigh the risk of not using PPE against the benefits of choosing to use it. A risk is defined as the chance that an undesirable or harmful event will occur as a result of actions taken in relation to a hazard. A benefit is the positive outcome of actions. In the delivery of medical care, a reasonable risk versus benefit analysis clearly indicates the need for PPE at all incidents, since response personnel have high potential for direct contact with blood or other body fluids while performing assigned task.
* Latex protective gloves
* Biohazard waste bag
* Face shield
* Face mask
* Head cover
PPE provides a barrier between response personnel and potentially infectious materials. Using PPE consistently and correctly is one of the best ways fire personnel can reduce their risk of contracting a communicable disease in the field.
There may be times when members feel that they do not have time to put on personal protective equipment. When this situation arises, TAKE THE TIME, if you don't, you may be signing your death warrant. It is presumptuous to think you can determine when it is the time not to take proper precautions.
PPE is considered appropriate
if:
Under normal conditions it does not permit blood or other potential infectious materials to pass through to or reach the members work clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes.Emergency incidents that have the potential for extensive contact with blood or other body fluids require the use of protective clothing. In most cases, general work clothes or uniforms should not be substituted for PPE. An exception is structural firefighting clothing, which provides adequate body protection from most exposures.
In the field, members
should become accustomed to using personal protective equipment routinely
to guard against transmission of communicable diseases. PPE encompasses
protective clothing and equipment for the hands, face, and body, such as
gloves, mask, face shields, protective eye wear, resuscitation equipment
and fluid resistant gowns and coveralls. The purpose of PPE is to protect
members of the department from contact with blood and other body fluids.
Members of the Tupelo Fire Department are to use appropriate protection
for each situation encountered. PPE shall be used whenever there is a potential
for exposure to body fluids or other infectious materials.
If bunker gear or turnout gear should become soiled with body fluids, arrangements should be made with the Assistant Chief to have the turnout gear brought to Central Fire Station and cleaned immediately.
It is the policy of the Tupelo Fire Department that all personnel expected or likely to respond to, and function in areas of atmosphere contamination, shall be equipped with, and trained in the proper use and maintenance of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
High Visibility vest shall be worn by all members not wearing turn out coats when working in or around streets, roads, intersections, or highways, and/or any other time the possibility exists of being struck by a vehicle.
Driver/operators shall wear turn out coats or high visibility vests at all times when operating the pump, except when the scene is totally free of moving vehicles.
Personnel riding Unit Numbers 51-02, 51-04, 51-05, 51-06 in the jump seat area to wear hearing protection at all times. The standard requires that hearing protection be provided for all personnel riding on fire apparatus when subject to noise in excess of 90 dBA.
Personnel working with power tools or equipment shall use hearing protection.
Hearing protection shall
not be utilized when such protective equipment would create an additional
hazard to the user.
Each member of the Emergency Services Division shall be accountable for one (1) SCBA and shall check that SCBA for condition at the beginning of each shift and after each use, or at any other time necessary.
Company officers shall assign a specific SCBA to each member of the crew. Each crew member will be responsible for the proper use and function of that SCBA. If a SCBA is found to be functioning improperly, it shall be taken out of service, tagged, reported and replaced as soon as possible. The Company officer is responsible for assuring that all SCBA on the apparatus is checked each shift.
SCBA shall be worn with the face piece in place, using tank air, by all personnel when operating:
* In a contaminated atmosphereSCBA shall be worn and ready for use by all personnel operating:
* In an oxygen deficient atmosphere
* Where both contamination and oxygen deficiency are suspected
* In an unventilated, confined space
* Above an involved fire area
* In an area subject to explosion or sudden contamination
* Above ground levelTHE BASIC DECISION ON USING SCBA IS BASED ON THREE ABSOLUTE RULES:
* Below ground level
* In an area where the atmosphere may become contaminated
* NOBODY IS EVER ALLOWED TO BREATHE SMOKE
* USE SCBA UNTIL ATMOSPHERE IS CONFIRMED TO BE SAFE
* IF IN DOUBT ---USE IT
Resist the tendency to prematurely remove SCBA during routine fire situations. We all must be aware of the respiratory hazards that exist in the ordinary, as well as, the extraordinary fire situation. It is generally true that carbon monoxide levels increase during overhaul, due to the incomplete combustion of smoldering materials.
Do not remove your SCBA until the atmosphere has been determined to be safe to operate within. Either use your SCBA or change the atmosphere.
The determination to remove SCBA will be made by the company officer in routine situations. In complex situations, particularly when toxic materials are involved, the Incident Commander and/or Safety Officer should be consulted on this decision.
An evaluation of all members in the use of SCBA shall be conducted at least annually. Each member shall be able to demonstrate a high level of proficiency and compatibility with the SCBA under conditions comparable to those the member is expected to function under as a job requirement.
Each member of the Emergency Services Division shall be accountable for one Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device, and shall check all functions of the PASS device at the beginning of each shift and after each use, or at any other time necessary. The company officers shall insure that any additional PASS devices assigned to each apparatus is checked at the beginning of each shift.
The PASS device shall be attached to the SCBA harness.
If a PASS device is found to be functioning improperly, it shall be taken out of service, tagged, reported and replaced as soon as possible, when operating at all hazardous incidents, (ie: fires, haz mat. etc.).
ALL PERSONNEL WILL ARM THE PASS DEVICE UPON EXITING THE APPARATUS.
PASS devices that inadvertently activate and sound an alarm tone, and are allowed to continuously sound the alarm tone while on the incident, with no emergency present, will cause the Personal Alert Safety System to become INEFFECTIVE.
PASS devices that inadvertently activate and sound an alarm tone, while on the incident with no emergency present shall be reset immediately. Each member should be sure that it is not their alarm sounding when an alarm tone continues to sound.
The company officer and/or
Safety Officer may, when safety is assured, allow members to deactivate
the PASS device. It is the responsibility of all members to be alert
for the alarm tone and investigate it immediately within the guidelines
of the command structure (NO FREELANCE INVESTIGATIONS OF ALARM TONES).
Before leaving quarters, the company officer is responsible for verifying that certain requirements have been met, including:
* The driver is alert and aware of the destinationALL PERSONNEL ARE REQUIRED TO USE SEAT BELTS WHEN OPERATING A CITY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS. ANYONE RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN A VEHICLE IS REQUIRED TO USE SEAT BELTS. MEMBERS MUST RIDE IN SEATS.
* The apparatus bay door is open completely, and all crew members are in place and safely belted.
When responding in EMERGENCY status, fire department vehicles may exceed the posted speed limit, but shall be regulated at all times by existing road and traffic conditions.
When normal road conditions are compromised by weather (wet, fog, etc.) disrepair, or any other negative/hazardous conditions, fire department vehicles should react prudently to the conditions encountered.
Unless all traffic lanes can be accounted for by the driver during an emergency response, fire department vehicles must come to a rolling stop at all negative right-of-way situations (red lights, intersections, stop signs, railroad tracks.)
The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call upon approaching a red light or stop signal or any stop sign shall slow down as necessary for safety but may proceed cautiously past such red or stop sign or signal. At other times drivers of authorized emergency vehicles shall stop in obedience to a stop sign or signal.
The speed limit for vehicles responding to an emergency call shall not exceed ten (10) miles per hour above the posted speed limit in commercial and residential areas and not to exceed fifteen (15) miles per hour above the posted speed limit on highways.
RULE OF THUMB: IF YOU CAN'T SEE, STOP!
No apparatus shall be backed unless appropriate personnel, (spotter) is in position to direct the rearward movement in a safe manner. Spotters are not required for autos and light trucks, but the shall use extreme care in backing.
In the case that a vehicle must be backed without spotters the driver shall exit the apparatus and complete a 360 degree trip around the vehicle to look for hazards and obstacles. The driver should back the apparatus only as much as necessary to complete the maneuver. This method should only be used when absolutely necessary.
During an emergency response, fire vehicles should avoid passing other emergency vehicles. If unavoidable, the passing arrangement should be conducted through radio communications.
We must respond and react according to the conditions encountered. Neither poor road conditions, nor inclement weather, nor the actions of others relieve the driver in the slightest degree of the responsibility to drive safely.
The unique hazards of driving on or adjacent to the incident require the driver to use extreme caution and alertness, and also requires that a prudent speed be utilized for the conditions encountered, in order to react to the unexpected.
When driving apparatus to the incident, drivers must resist the tendency to drive hastily or imprudently. This tendency is mostly due to the urgent nature of incident operations.
Drivers must consider the dangers their moving vehicles pose to incident personnel and spectators who may be preoccupied with the emergency, and inadvertently step in front of or behind a moving vehicle.
Drivers must also be aware of the potential that exists for vehicle accidents on or near the incident due to the distractions caused by the emergency.
The Driver/Operator shall disengage the Jake Brake or other auxiliary braking system (if the apparatus is so equipped) when driving on slick pavement.
Upon approaching a rail crossing the following precautions should be followed:
In a non-emergency response mode upon approaching an unguarded railroad crossing the driver and company officer shall observe the warning system for operation, open the windows of the vehicle, activate emergency flashers, bring the vehicle to a complete stop prior to entering the crossing area, listen for a train warning signal and observe all directions for on-coming train traffic. Once the company officer and the driver has determined there is no train traffic. Once the company officer and the driver has determined there is no train approaching, the driver may proceed across the rail crossing.
In an emergency response mode upon approaching an unguarded railroad crossing the driver and company officer shall observe the warning system for operation, open the windows of the vehicle, turn the siren off, bring the vehicle to a complete stop prior to entering the crossing area, listen for a train warning signal and observe all directions for on-coming train traffic. Once the company officer and the driver has determined there is no train approaching, the driver may proceed across the rail crossing. An exception to turning off the siren would be when the rail crossing is at a four way intersection (ie. Crosstown). At crossings of this nature, the hazards associated with automobile traffic at an intersection, dictates that the driver and company officer use extreme caution when proceeding through the intersection and leave the warning siren activated in order to clear automobile traffic from the intersection.
At no time should the apparatus cross a rail crossing when the warning signals are activated, unless the company officer exits the apparatus, walks to the crossing and observes for train traffic. The company officer may enter the apparatus only after the apparatus has crossed the tracks.
No loose equipment shall be in the cabs of emergency apparatus. All loose items must be secured so they will not interfere or distract the Driver/Operator in any way, to make the operation of the vehicle unsafe. This includes PPE. Driver/Operators should store their PPE in a compartment or jumpseat location.
There shall be no food or drink for immediate consumption in the cab of the apparatus at any time the apparatus is in service.
INCIDENT PERIMETER DEFINED:
The area inside an imaginary boundary that has been determined by safety considerations according to the foreseeable hazards of the particular incident.
All suppression personnel inside the incident perimeter shall be:
* Wearing full protective clothingALL OTHERS STAY OUT !
* Functioning with their assigned company or on assignment by their respective supervisor
* Have a specific assignment of function to perform
Command and staff personnel may necessarily violate portions of this guideline in order to carry out responsibilities. In these situations, they should exercise the highest degree of personal safety.
Enforcement of these rules virtually eliminates "Free-lancers, Wanderers, and Ghosters" in an area where they are exposed to danger.
If apparatus is properly placed, the area between the apparatus and the building is "IN" the incident perimeter, beyond the apparatus is generally "OUT" of the perimeter.
The flexible boundary that determines the incident can be altered by various safety factors, such as:
* Areas subject to structural collapseThe incident perimeter should be no mystery to operating personnel. Where the hazards are not clearly evident, such as hazardous materials incidents or areas where a weakened part of the structure may be expected to fall, the Incident Commander and/or Safety Officer should have a rope or banner tape stretched to define a VISIBLE boundary line. Access to these area, if permitted, must be controlled.
* Areas of potential backdraft or flashover
* Areas of smoke drift
* Areas of falling debris ( a basic perimeter of 100 feet in all directions should be maintained around high-rise buildings and with some high-rise structures and wind conditions a distance of one city block should be evacuated of all citizens.
* Location of the fire in relation to the center of the street and clear areas available around the building.
The Tupelo Fire Department recognizes the potential exposure of its fire fighters, in the performance of their duties, to communicable diseases. To minimize the risk of exposure, the Tupelo Fire Department will implement an infection control program.
The infection control program will include standard operating procedures, initial training and continuing education in infection control practices, a vaccination program, the provision of proper infection control clothing and equipment, decontamination procedures for clothing and equipment, procedures for disposal of medical waste, a system for reporting and managing confidentiality, monitoring of compliance with the
Standard operating procedures, the design of future fire department facilities to minimize the risk of infection, and a public information campaign.
In the emergency care setting, the infectious disease status of patients is frequently unknown by fire department personnel. All patients must be considered infectious. Blood and body fluid precautions must be taken with all patients.
Members with infections that constitute, in the course of performing their duties, a risk of infection to patients or other members should be evaluated to determine the functions they can perform.
Members with extensive skin lesions or severe dermatitis on hands, arms, head, face, or neck shall not engage in direct patient contact, handle patient care equipment, or handle medical waste.
Members who are pregnant shall not engage in emergency medical operations due to the dangers to both the member and the fetus because the type frequency, and severity of infectious exposure is uncontrollable and unpredictable.
The fire department shall conduct periodic training regarding infectious disease control during emergency medical operations, including personal protection precautions, proper disposal and decontamination procedures, and methods of transmission and prevention for various infectious diseases.
The assistant chiefs shall be designated as the infection control liaison for the shift he supervises. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Maintaining communications between the fire department and various health care facilities and professionals.
Shall investigate the report of any possible exposure, and notify all the members who were potentially exposed, and ensure that follow-up medical supervision is provided.
Shall ensure that standard operating procedures are followed by all members.
The fire department shall make available to all personnel who wish to participate, access to a immunization program, including a vaccination against Hepatitis B.
Exposures:
Should any member of the fire department sustain an exposure, the exposed area shall be thoroughly washed immediately using water on mucous surfaces, and soap and running water on skin surfaces. If soap and running water are not available, alcohol or other skin cleaning agents that do not require running water shall be used until soap and running water can be obtained.
Should any member of the fire department be exposed to an infectious disease he shall notify the infection control liaison within three (3) hours of the exposure.
The infection control liaison shall provide and complete the infectious exposure form. The report shall include a description of the tasks being performed when the exposure occurred, the means of transmission, the portal of entry, the infection control garments and equipment utilized, and the disposition of medical management. For a example of this form see the appendix of chapter 5 of the SOG manual. (EXPOSURE FORM)
This report and follow-up medical guidance, counseling and testing shall be confidential.
The infection control liaison shall ensure that the exposed member receives medical guidance, evaluation, and any appropriate treatment as soon as practical, but within 48 hours.
The exposure data shall become a part of the member's personal health data file.
Assistant chiefs shall be designated as infection control officer for members under his command.
Prior to any contact with patients, members shall cover all areas of abraded, lacerated, chapped, irritated, or otherwise damaged skin with adhesive dressings, provided the member is not constrained, due to other infections or medical guidance.
Members engaging in any emergency patient care shall don medical gloves prior to initiating such care. Medical gloves shall be a part of standard emergency response gear.
Medical gloves shall be removed as soon as possible after the termination of patient care, taking precautions to avoid contact with the exterior surface of the glove.
Structural fire fighting gloves shall be worn by members in any situation where sharp or rough surfaces are likely to be encountered, such as extrication.
Cleaning gloves should be used to protect against contact with body fluids and disinfectants when disinfecting clothing or equipment used in emergency medical operations.
Members shall not eat, drink, smoke, apply cosmetics or lip balm, or handle contact lenses while wearing gloves.
Masks, splash resistant eyewear, and fluid resistant clothing shall be donned prior to any patient care situations, by members providing treatment, during which large spills of body fluids can occur, such as spurting blood and childbirth.
Artificial respiration equipment shall be single patient use type and swapped with the ambulance if at all possible. Non-disposable equipment shall be used only if necessary.
All members involved in patient care where sharp instruments or devices are present shall take precautions to prevent injuries by the devices. All such devices used in patient care shall be considered contaminated. Do not recap any needles.
Dirty or contaminated medical equipment shall not be cleaned or disinfected in the kitchen, living, sleeping areas. Until future changes can be made areas within the stations should be designated for equipment cleaning and disinfecting.
These areas shall be isolated from additional personnel during the disinfection process and all surfaces shall be disinfected immediately after cleaning the equipment.
The department is making every effort to end the need to disinfect medical equipment by using single patient use items however, occasionally this is not possible. When cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment the same or greater precautions should be utilized as when having patient contact.
Special precautions while cleaning medical equipment shall include but not be limited to:
- Avoid splashing by cleaning solutions
- Protection against splashing eye and mucous membranes
- Hand protection against the cleaning solution
- Avoid contact with run-off of cleaning solution
- Equipment, clothing, or supplies in need of cleaning shall be stored separated from clean equipment. Contaminated items shall be isolated as soon as possible after patient care is terminated.
- Skin surfaces that were not covered by clothing, protective clothing equipment, or infection control garments shall be washed after patient care is terminated.
Hands shall be washed
after:
Protective clothing and station wear contaminated with large amounts of body fluids shall be placed in leak proof containers and stored for cleaning. Such items should not be taken home for the purpose of cleaning.
All mattresses shall be covered with a sheet prior to sleeping on the bed. The sheet shall not be shared by another person.
Recommended cleaning methods:
For removal of soiling
in the absence of visible body fluid contamination and routine housekeeping:
The following cleaners are recommended to spot clean protective clothing.
The following recommendations should be followed when washing protective clothing:
While the machine is filling with hot water, add ½ cup of oxygenated bleach (liquid chlorox 2 or liquid vivid) and 1 cup of liquid detergent (liquid wisk, liquid tide, liquid cheer or liquid fab).
Fill washer to the highest water capacity, set for normal cycle, cotton/white, or similar setting, add the clothing to be washed. Set the machine for double rinse or a complete second cycle can be run without adding detergent or oxygenated bleach.
Remove the garments and hang in a shaded area for drying.
INFECTIOUS EXPOSURE FORM
EXPOSED MEMBER'S NAME: ___________________________________________RANK:__________________
SOCIAL SECURITY #__________________________________________
HOME PHONE:___________________
INCIDENT #:________________
SHIFT:______________ STATION:__________________
NAME OF PATIENT:_____________________________________________________________SEX:__________
ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________________________AGE:_________
SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED DISEASE:_________________________________________________________
TRANSPORTED TO:____________________________________________________________________________
TRANSPORTED BY:____________________________________________________________________________
DATE OF EXPOSURE:_______________________________
TIME OF EXPOSURE:_______________________
TYPE OF INCIDENT (AUTO ACCIDENT,
TRAUMA):__________________________________________________
WHAT WERE YOU EXPOSED TO:
_____ BLOOD _____TEARS _____FECES
_____URINE _____SALIVA _____VOMITUS _____SPUTUM _____SWEAT _____OTHER:_____________________________
WHAT PART(S) OF YOUR BODY
BECAME EXPOSED? (BE SPECIFIC): _______________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
DID YOU HAVE ANY OPEN CUTS, SORES, OR RASHES THAT BECAME EXPOSED?(BE SPECIFIC):
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
HOW DID THE EXPOSURE OCCUR?
(BE SPECIFIC): _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
DID YOU SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION? _____YES _____NO WHERE?__________________ DATE:__________
CONTACT INFECTION CONTROL
OFFICER: DATE__________ TIME:_________
SUPERVISOR'S SIGNATURE:______________________________________________DATE:_______________
MEMBER'S SIGNATURE:_________________________________________________ DATE:_______________
One of the most critical and urgent situations which can occur on the incident is when the Incident Commander has to evacuate a fire building and switch to defensive strategy.
Interior firefighting operations should be abandoned when the extent of the fire prohibits or the structure becomes unsafe to operate within. When such conditions become untenable, evacuate, regroup, communicate, and redeploy.
The welfare of personnel must be the primary concern when hazardous conditions become apparent.
In an effort to protect personnel which may suffer the adverse effects of such hazards as structural collapse, explosion, backdraft, etc., a structured method of area evacuation must be utilized, one which will provide for the rapid/effective notification of those personnel involved, and one which will be able to account for those personnel.
The method of evacuation selected will vary depending on the following circumstances:
Any member has the authority to utilize the "Emergency Traffic" announcement when it is felt that a notable danger to personnel is apparent. However, considerable discretion should be applied to its use. Emergency traffic announcements become ineffective if overused.
When an imminent hazard has been realized, the emergency traffic process should be initiated. Usually either a company or sector/division officer will be the initiator. The initiator should describe the apparent hazard and order a positive response, usually to evacuate a particular area or section, according to the scope of the hazard.
If possible, the sector/division officer of those areas to be evacuated should request an acknowledgment of the emergency traffic dispatch from those crews to be evacuated.
A change from offensive to defensive mode must be done utilizing emergency traffic.
Firefighter Evacuation
During a fire or natural disaster, should personnel need to evacuate a building because of structural weakness, the Incident Commander will request an alert tone from dispatch followed by a notification of the evacuation over the radio; then all apparatus will sound their siren as well as their air horn together for approximately 15-20 seconds.
Upon receipt of the emergency traffic evacuation order, company officers will assemble their crews and promptly exit to a safe location, where the company officer will again account for all crew members. Shortly, after the evacuation order, sector/division officers will begin the process of accounting for all evacuated crews and a PAR will be performed. When all affected crews and crew members are accounted for, the evacuation process is complete. At this time a more specific determination as to the reality/extent of the hazard can be made and efforts initiated to redeploy/redirect attack forces.
Building evacuation generally
involves
a shift from offensive to defensive as an operational strategy. In such
cases, the Incident Commander must develop a corresponding operational
plan and must communicate that plan to all operating elements. This can
be a difficult shift to
complete as companies are committed to positions in an offensive manner.
It is extremely important that every gets THE WORD that a strategic shift
has been made.
Hazards noted of a less than imminent nature should usually be handled by a consultation of the Incident Commander, sector/division officers, and/or the safety officer, company officers and/or outside agency authorities. These officers or specialists should make a determination as to the nature and possible effect of the suspected hazard and advise the Incident Commander so that a more knowledgeable decision can be made as to the proper course of action.
Hazards that will affect only specific sector/division area(s) should be dealt with within the sector/division(s) and not necessarily affect the entire operation.
It is a principal Command responsibility to continually evaluate and determine if the fire building is tenable for interior operations. This ongoing evaluation of structural/fire conditions requires the input of company officers advising their respective sector/division officers and sector/division officers advising the Incident Commander of conditions in their local area (sector/division) of operation.
The Incident Commander must be concerned with how long a structure can be expected to hold together under fire conditions. A fire resistive or heavy timber building may stand up to prolonged assaults, but other types will begin to come apart much more rapidly.
The OLD 20 Minute rule told us that we could expect most ordinary construction buildings to withstand about 20 minutes of heavy fire involvement before failure. Based on this assumption the Incident Commander would be able to make an evacuation after 15 minutes, and still have a 5 minute safety margin. Unfortunately, buildings do not come with 20 minute guarantee certificates. Therefore, the Incident Commander must constantly monitor and re-evaluate the safety of the structure and use the 20 minute rule to maintain an awareness of time in relation to structural conditions.
Many newer type buildings will not even last 10 minutes, and all types of building may contain hidden flaws. The Incident Commander should initiate a careful evaluation of structural conditions and should be fully prepared to withdraw interior crews and resort to a defensive position.
While constantly re-evaluating attack options, the Incident Commander should:
1. Check the Pre-Emergency Plans for the building involved as to construction features such as:
The following procedure shall be adhered to in an effort to provide a personnel accountability system for use at emergency scenes. The system shall be followed by on and off duty personnel.
Each Firefighter shall be assisgned a Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT). Each firefighter is responsible for the maintenance and security of his/her PAT.
The on duty personnel shall upon arrival at the station, place the PAT in the designated collection point on his/her assigned apparatus. This signifies that this person is on board the apparatus, and should be accounted for by the company officer or sector officer during an emergency.
Should a person be required to leave the station and not respond on board that apparatus, the PAT should be removed from the collection point. If that person responds to the scene of an emergency the PAT should be given to the Incident Commander immediately upon arrival, prior to taking part in any fire fighting or other emergency activity. All courtesy time, swap time personnel, or off duty personnel on board a responding apparatus should have time their PAT placed on the apparatus.
The driver/operator of each apparatus is designated as the accountability officer for their apparatus during Level I accountability. The driver/operator of the first due apparatus is the designated Accountabiltiy Officer of the Incident.
All off duty personnel shall report directly to the command post or the driver/operator of the first due apparatus and have their PAT collected prior to conducting any emergency operations. REPORT TO THE APPARATUS ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER, ONLY IF THE INCIDENT COMMANDER CAN NOT BE CONTACTED. Only after reporting to the Incident Commander shall the off duty personnel engage in fireground operations.
Prior to leaving the scene of any emergency operation the officer in charge of the apparatus and/or command shall account for all personnel reported to be on the scene as indicated by the collection of PATs.
Off duty personnel who are operating on the fireground must be in protective clothing and leave their PAT at the appropriate collection point.
Personnel present by not operating in any capacity may wear their PAT for identification.
PATs must be collected by off duty personnel prior to leaving the scene. This must be done in order to prevent a search and rescue operation being conducted. If your PAT is left at the scene, you will be considered unaccounted until proven otherwise.
LEVELS OF PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY
Level I The normal response level of personnel accountability. Personnel are accounted for by the assigned company officer. Off duty personnel report to Command or Accountability Officer.
Level II At any time during the incident, Command may call for Level II accountability. At this time all PATs will be brought to Command, or the appropriate Sector Officer. All PATs will be grouped by assignment, function, or unit.
Level III During incidents requiring strict securtiy, or point of entry control (HAZ MATS, Large Incidents, Etc.) an officer will be assigned to the name, air supply, duration expected, function, or assignement, and time of entry. If at the estimated exit time the person is not accounted for, as search and rescue operation will be initiated. If a person exits at at point other than the controlled entry point, he/she shall notify control point personnel as soon as possible.
In theory, each person operating at an emergency incident and wearing an SCBA should have between 20-30 minutes of quality working time from each cylinder of air depending on the size or capacity of the SCBA cylinder and/or the physical shape of the individual. Therefore, if each individual's whereabouts are checked every 15 minutes, and a person is found to be unaccounted for, this should allow the Rapid Intervention Team 5-15 minutes to locate the person and rescue him or change his cylinder. This is the intent of the Personnel Accountability Report (PAR).
A PAR should be done every 15 minutes while crews are operating on an emergency scene where accountability is an issue. A PAR should also be done following any changes in the scene, such as a collapse, flashover, backdraft, etc. The PAR is conducted by the IC or Accountability officer via radio to each company operating at the scene. Dispatch will contact the IC every 15 minutes to remind him that its time for a PAR. The IC will then request an alert tone from dispatch along with information alerting all units that a PAR is about to take place. At this time the company officers of each crew should make a quick check of their team members to be sure they are still present. The IC will then call on each crew one at a time to PAR, and the company officers will, when called upon, give their crew's present assignment and whether or not all members of their team are present and accounted for. This will allow command a chance to review and compare this information to his tactical worksheet and make any changes if necessary.
For example:
Truck 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Rescue 1, and FD 3 are operating at a working structure fire at 212 North Green St. FD3 is command and is in charge of accountability. All units have been onscene now approximately 15 minutes.
Dispatch: "Dispatch to North Green Command, you've been onscene for approximately 15 minutes. Its time for a PAR."
FD3: "Copy dispatch. Go ahead and give me an alert tone for a PAR."
Dispatch: {ALERT TONE} "All units on the fireground at 212 North Green Street, Command is requesting a PAR. All company officers account for your crews."
(At this time all company officers will account for each of their crew members.)
FD3: "Command to all units stand-by for PAR"........"Command to Truck 1 do you have PAR?"
Truck 1-A: "Command, this is Truck 1, we are on interior attack. We have all crew members present and accounted for."
FD3: "Copy Truck 1. Engine 2, do you have PAR?"
Engine 2-A: "Command, this is Engine 2. We are backing up Truck 1 on attack. We have PAR."
FD3: "Copy Engine 2. Engine 3, do you have PAR?"
Engine 3-A: "Command, this is Engine 3. We are the RIT team. We have PAR."
FD3: "Copy Engine 3. Rescue 1 do you have PAR?"
Rescue 1-A: "Command, this is Rescue 1. We are conducting a secondary search. We've got PAR."
FD3: "Dispatch, this is North Green Command. We've conducted our PAR and all personnel arepresent and accounted for."
Dispatch: "Copy North Green Command."
This procedure is repeated again in 15 minutes. If additional units arrive onscene they will be added in the procedure. Command can request additional PARs or stop the PARs at any time by contacting dispatch. Should a crew not answer their call to PAR, or a team member is found to be missing, that crew or member will be considered unaccounted for until proven otherwise.
If level III accountability is in effect, the sector officers will account for the men in their sector and answer the PAR in place of company officers.