The following activities have been designed to help you. Your instructor may requireyou to complete some or all of these activities as a regular part of your fire fightertraining program. You are encouraged to complete any activity that your instructordoes not assign as a way to enhance your learning in the classroom.

Workbook Activities

The following exercises provide an opportunity to refresh your knowledge of this chapter.

MatchingMatch each of the terms in the left column to the appropriate definition in the right column.

______ 1. Compressor A. To take off an item of clothing or equipment

______ 2. Face piece B. A process to provide periods of rest and recovery for emergency workers during anincident

______ 3. Two-way radio C. A fire-resistant synthetic material

______ 4. Doff D. To put on an item of clothing or equipment

______ 5. Rehabilitation E. A portable communication device used by fire fighters

______ 6. Don F. Component of SCBA that fits over the face

______ 7. Cascade system G. A device used to refill SCBA cylinders

______ 8. Nomex® H. An apparatus consisting of multiple tanks used to store compressed air

Multiple ChoiceRead each item carefully, then select the best response.

______ 1. The system in which two fire fighters work as a team for safety purposes is referred to as the:

A. incident management system.

B. buddy system.

C. personnel accountability system.

D. personal alert system.

______ 2. Putting on an item of clothing or equipment is called:

A. doffing.

B. freelancing.

C. prepping.

D. donning.

Chapter Review

______ 3. An electronic semiconductor that emits a single-color light when activatedis an LED, which is an acronym for:

A. light-emergent device.

B. light-exiting device.

C. light-emitting diode.

D. laser-emitting diode.

______ 4. Oxygen deficiency occurs when the atmosphere’s oxygen level dropsbelow:

A. 19.5%.

B. 21%.

C. 9%.

D. 6%.

______ 5. An alarm that sounds to alert rescuers to the location of an injured,trapped, or lost fire fighter is a(n):

A. personal alert safety system (PASS).

B. cascade system.

C. emergency by-pass mode.

D. SCBA regulator.

______ 6. PBI®, Kevlar®, and Nomex® are materials used in the production of:

A. personal protective clothing.

B. firefighting ropes.

C. communications equipment.

D. the buddy system.

______ 7. An SCBA in which exhaled air is released into the atmosphere and is notreused is a(n):

A. closed-circuit breathing apparatus.

B. cascade system.

C. open-circuit breathing apparatus.

D. supplied-air apparatus.

10 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

______ 8. The written rules and procedures used to structure the normal operationsof a fire department are the:

A. general operating guidelines.

B. NIOSH Codes.

C. Incident management system (IMS).

D. Standard operating procedures (SOPs).

______ 9. In general, an SCBA weighs at least:

A. 25 pounds.

B. 30 pounds.

C. 40 pounds.

D. 45 pounds.

______ 10. Periodic _______ testing is required to ensure SCBA are in good workingcondition.

A. cylinder

B. hydrostatic

C. NIOSH

D. standard operating procedure

______ 11. The device on an SCBA that measures and displays the quantity ofbreathing air that is available is the:

A. personal safety gauge.

B. pressure gauge.

C. SCBA regulator.

D. air line.

______ 12. The protective device used to provide safe breathing air to a user in ahostile or dangerous atmosphere is a(n):

A. respirator.

B. SCBA regulator.

C. air line.

D. face piece.

______ 13. An SCBA designed to recycle the user’s exhaled air is a(n):

A. closed-circuit breathing apparatus.

B. cascade system.

C. open-circuit breathing apparatus.

D. supplied-air apparatus.

______ 14. The part of the personal protective equipment that is worn over the headand under the helmet to protect the neck and ears is the:

A. helmet shell.

B. protective hood.

C. bunker hood.

D. face piece.

______ 15. During operating mode, if the SCBA regulator fails to function properly,what releases a constant flow of breathing air into the face piece?

A. Respirator

B. Air line

C. Emergency by-pass mode

D. PBI

N O T E S

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 11

______ 16. The leading cause of death among fire fighters is:

A. vehicle accidents.

B. smoke inhalation.

C. heart disease.

D. cancer.

______ 17. When plastic products burn, one of the most dangerous gases produced is:

A. hydrogen cyanide.

B. phosgene gas.

C. hydrochloric gas.

D. phosphorous gas.

______ 18. The straps and fasteners used to attach the SCBA to the fire fighter arepart of the:

A. face piece.

B. backpack.

C. bunker coat.

D. harness.

______ 19. If you need assistance during an emergency situation, you should activateyour:

A. respirator.

B. PASS device.

C. SCBA regulator.

D. LED.

VocabularyDefine the following terms using the space provided.

1. Employee assistance program (EAP):

2. Incident management system (IMS):

3. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):

N O T E S

12 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

4. Personnel accountability system:

5. Safety officer:

6. Standard operating procedures (SOPs):

Fill-inRead each item carefully, then complete the statement by filling in the missing word(s).

1. When the fuel is not completely consumed during the burning process,

_________________ _________________ occurs.

2. An atmosphere is described as _________________ when the oxygen level fallsbelow 19.5%.

3. The _________________ officer has the authority to stop any activity that isdeemed unsafe.

4. When fire fighters make independent decisions or do not follow command

instructions, they are taking part in the dangerous practice of _________________.

5. A(n) _________________ gets its air through a hose from a remote source, suchas a compressor or storage cylinder.

6. _________________ or bunker coats and pants are protective clothing worn byfire fighters for interior structural firefighting.

True/FalseIf you believe the statement to be more true than false, write the letter “T” in the space provided.If you believe the statement to be more false than true, write the letter “F.”

1. ______ Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas produced through incompletecombustion.

2. ______ Rapid intervention teams are the first fire fighters to enter a structurein an emergency operation.

N O T E S

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 13

3. ______ SCBA regulators control the flow of air by increasing the low pressurein the cylinder to a usable higher pressure for the user.

4. ______ Phosgene gas is a dangerous by-product of incomplete combustion.

5. ______ A prompt response is a higher priority than a safe response.

6. ______ The vital mission of the fire department is to save lives and protectproperty.

7. ______ Most fire departments have employee assistance programs to providecounseling services to support fire fighters.

8. ______ Freelancing is a good method of discovering new firefightingtechniques.

Short AnswerComplete this section with short written answers using the space provided.

1. Identify the four major components of a successful safety program.

2. Identify five limitations of personal protective equipment (PPE).

3. What are the seven types of protection provided by PPE?

4. Discuss three reasons fire fighters need respiratory protection during fireincidents.

5. Describe the purpose of a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD).

N O T E S

14 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

Word FunAcross

1 The individual in overallcommand of an emergencyincident.

6 A designated individual whooversees safety practices atan emergency scene andduring training.

9 To put on an item of cloth-ing or equipment.

10 Dangerous activity of actingindependently of commandinstructions.

12 The hose through which airflows within an SCBA.

13 A system in which two firefighters always work as ateam for safety purposes.

14 The protective coat worn bya fire fighter for interiorstructural firefighting.

15 Part of SCBA that allowsfire fighters to wear it as a“backpack.”

16 A protective device used toprovide safe breathing air to a user in a dangerousatmosphere.

17 A respirator that gets its airthrough a hose from aremote source.

Down 2 An insert inside the face piece

of an SCBA that fits over theuser’s mouth and nose.

3 Operating mode that allowsan SCBA to be used even ifpart of the regulator fails tofunction properly.

4 The component of the SCBAthat stores the compressedair supply.

5 Airborne solid material con-sisting of ash and unburnedor partially burned fuelreleased by a fire.

7 A dangerous by-product ofincomplete combustion.

8 A mechanical device that isused to refill SCBA cylinders.

9 To take off an item of cloth-ing or equipment.

11 Protective head coveringworn by fire fighters to pro-tect the head from fallingobjects, blunt trauma, andheat.

14 The harness of the SCBAthat supports the compo-nents worn by a fire fighter.

C L U E S

1 3

4

5 6 7

8

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

2

9

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 15

The following crossword puzzle is an activity provided to reinforce correct spelling and understand-ing of terminology associated with firefighting. Use the clues provided to complete the puzzle.

Fire AlarmsThe following real case scenarios will give you an opportunity to explore the concerns associatedwith fire fighter qualifications and safety. Read each scenario, then answer each question in detail.

1. You have just returned from a commercial structure fire at a mattress store. YourPPE is soiled with the products of combustion. Although you were sprayed offwith water at the scene, your gear is still very dirty.

How will you proceed?

2. It is just after dinner when your ladder truck company is dispatched to anapartment fire. Upon arrival, you are assigned to search-and-rescue on the secondfloor. You have just completed searching the first apartment when your SCBAregulator malfunctions.

How should you proceed?

N O T E S

16 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

1. Place your equipment in a(n) _________________order for donning.

2. Place your protective _________________ overyour head and down around your neck.

3. Put on boots and pull up bunker pants. Place the_________________ over your shoulders andsecure the front of the pants.

4. Put on your _________________ coat and closethe front of the coat.

5. Place the _________________on your head and adjust thechin strap securely. Turn upyour coat collar and secure it infront.

6. Put on your _______________. 7. Have your partner_________________ your clothing.

Skill Drills

Skill Drill 2-1: Donning Personal Protective ClothingTest your knowledge of this skill drill by filling in the correct words in the photo captions.

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 17

______ Remove your bunker pants and boots. ______ Remove your turnout coat.

______ Remove your protective hood. ______ Release the helmet chin strap and removeyour helmet.

______ Remove your gloves. ______ Open the collar of your turnout coat.

Skill Drill 2-2: Doffing Personal Protective ClothingTest your knowledge of this skill drill by placing the photos below in the correct order. Number the first step with a “1,” thesecond step with a “2,” etc.

18 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

1. Don full PPE ensemble prior to ________________fire apparatus. Safely mount the apparatus and sit inthe seat, placing arms through SCBA shoulderstraps.

2. Fasten your seat belt. Partially tighten the_________________ straps. When the apparatusstops, release the seat belt and release the SCBAfrom its brackets. Exit apparatus.

3. Attach _________________ belt and cinch down. 4. _________________ shoulder straps until they aretight.

Skill Drill 2-3: Donning SCBA from a Seat-Mounted BracketTest your knowledge of this skill drill by filling in the correct words in the photo captions.

Continued

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 19

5. Open the main _________________ valve. 6. Loosen or remove helmet and pull ______________back. Don face piece and check for leaks. Replaceprotective hood and helmet and secure chin strap.

7. If necessary, connect _________________ to facepiece.

8. Activate airflow and _________________ alarm.

20 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

______ Slide the SCBA down your back while yourarms slide into the shoulder straps. Tightenthe shoulder straps and secure the waist belt.

______ If necessary, connect the regulator to theface piece. Activate the airflow and PASSalarm.

______ Bend down and grasp the SCBA backplateand both hands. Using your legs, lift theSCBA over your head. Rotate the SCBA 180º,so the waist straps are pointed to the ground.

______ Open the case and lay out the SCBA withthe cylinder valve away from you and theshoulder straps out to the sides.

Skill Drill 2-5: Donning SCBA Using the Over-the-Head MethodTest your knowledge of this skill drill by placing the photos below in the correct order. Number the first step with a “1,” thesecond step with a “2,” etc.

______ Fully open the main cylinder valve. ______ Remove your helmet and pull the hoodback. Don your face piece and check for anadequate seal. Pull your protective hoodinto position, replace your helmet, andsecure the chin strap.

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 21

1. Open the case and lay out the SCBA with thecylinder valve away from you and the shoulderstraps out to the sides. Fully open the maincylinder valve. Place your _________________hand on the opposite shoulder strap.

2. Lift the SCBA and _________________ it overyour dominant shoulder.

6. Remove your helmet and pull your hood back.Don the _________________ _________________and check for an adequate seal.

7. Pull the hood into position, replace the helmet,and secure the chin strap. If necessary, connectthe regulator to the face piece. Activate the_________________ and PASS alarm.

Skill Drill 2-6: Donning SCBA Using the Coat MethodTest your knowledge of this skill drill by filling in the correct words in the photo captions.

3. Slide your other hand betweenthe SCBA cylinder and the_________________ shoulderstrap.

4. Tighten the ________________straps.

5. Attach the __________________________________ and adjusttightness.

22 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

______ Pull your protective hood so it covers allbare skin. Don your helmet and secure thechin strap.

______ If there are more straps, tighten the topstraps last.

______ Place your chin in the chin pocket. ______ Fit the face piece to your face, bringing thestraps or webbing over your head.

Skill Drill 2-7: Donning a Face PieceTest your knowledge of this skill drill by placing the photos below in the correct order. Number the first step with a “1,” thesecond step with a “2,” etc.

Continued

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 23

______ Check for proper seal. ______ Fully extend the straps on the face piece.

______ Install the regulator on your face piece orattach the low-pressure air supply hose tothe regulator.

______ Tighten the lowest two straps.

24 F U N D A M E N T A L S O F F I R E F I G H T E R S K I L L S

1. Remove your gloves. Removethe _________________ fromthe face piece or disconnectthe low-pressure hose from theregulator.

2. Remove your helmet and pullthe protective _______________down around your neck.

4. _________________ your facepiece.

5. Release your _______________________________.

7. Shut off the ________________valve.

8. _________________ the airpressure from the regulator.

3. Loosen the _________________piece straps.

6. _________________ theshoulder straps and removethe SCBA.

9. Place the SCBA in a_________________ location.

Skill Drill 2-8: Doffing SCBATest your knowledge of this skill drill by filling in the correct words in the photo captions.

Chapter 2: Fire Fighter Qualifications and Safety 25

______ Release the cylinder fromthe backpack.

______ Connect the high-pressure hose to the aircylinder.

______ Place the SCBA on thefloor or a bench.

______ Disconnect the high-pressure supply hose.

______ Open the cylinder valve.Check gauge reading.

______ Slide a full cylinder intothe backpack. Align theoutlet to the supplyhose. Lock the cylinderin place.

______ Turn off the cylindervalve.

______ Check that the “O” ringis present and in goodshape.

______ Open the by-pass valveto bleed off pressure.

Skill Drill 2-11: Replacing an SCBA CylinderTest your knowledge of this skill drill by placing the photos below in the correct order. Number the first step with a “1,” thesecond step with a “2,” etc.