Essentials of Firefighting (4th Edition)
Chapter 1-Firefighter Orientation & Safety
FF 1 Test Review (Statements)

• Unity of Command is based on the principle that a person can ONLY report to 1 supervisor.
• Chain of Command is the pathway of responsibility from highest to lowest.
• An officer can effectively supervise 3 to 7 firefighters.
• Span of Control is the number of personnel that one person can effectively manage.
• Division of Labor is used to assign responsibility.
• Discipline is the setting/enforcement of limits or boundaries for expected performance.
• NFPA 1001 states the requirements for firefighters.
• A fire company is a group of firefighters assigned to a specific apparatus.
• Typical duties of a FF1 or FF2 are to attend training, perform salvage, ensure loss control measures, climb ladders, and administer 1st aid.
• The fire apparatus Driver/Operator is responsible for operating mechanical equipment at a fire scene.
• The fire department Safety Officer is responsible for safety of emergency operations.
• The fire department Officer is responsible for resources and planning.
• Information Systems personnel are responsible for maintaining electronic databases.
• Telecommunicators are responsible for dispatching units.
• Fire police personnel are responsible for assisting police with traffic control.
• NBC stands for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical.
• NFPA 742 states the competencies for hazmat responders.
• The public fire and life safety educator is responsible for informing the public about fire hazards and safety.
• NFPA 1003 states the qualifications for airport firefighters.
• The fire protection engineer/specialist is responsible for advising a department's upper administration on department operations and fire prevention.
• Fire and arson investigators conduct investigations of a fire area.
• Fire prevention officers conduct technical and supervisory work in the fire prevention program.
• An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license is required to provide basic life support.
• A Paramedic (EMT-P) license is required to provide advanced life support.
• The drillmaster is responsible for administering all department training activities.
• A policy is a guide to decision-making.
• A procedure is a detailed guide to action.
• An order is a written or verbal instruction based on policy or procedure.
• A directive is a written or verbal instruction NOT based on policy or procedure.
• A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a predetermined plan for an emergency situation.
• Fireground priorities are life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation.
• Facilities is part of the service branch of Logistics in the IMS system.
• SOP's are usually initiated by the first-responding companies.
• Operations is responsible for directing tactical operations in the IMS system.
• Planning is responsible for collecting, evaluating, disseminating, and using information about the incident in the IMS system.
• Logistics is responsible for providing facilities, services, and materials in support of an incident in the IMS system.
• A Division is a geographic designation assigning responsibility for all operations within an assigned area.
• A Group is a functional unit.
• The Incident Commander (IC) is in charge of an overall incident.
• Brush Companies are usually used to extinguish fires in the urban interface.
• Truck Companies are usually used to perform forcible entry.
• Fire Protection Engineers usually act as consultants on fire department operations and fire prevention.
• Engine Companies usually deploy hoselines for attack and exposure protection.
• The local EMS system and SOP's determine the level of 1st aid training required by firefighters.
• Triage is the sorting of victims by severity of injury.
• Firefighters may be called on by law enforcement for forcible entry purposes.
• Most firefighter injuries are preventable.
• NFPA 1500 contains the minimum requirements for a fire department safety and health program.
• The basic concept of a health and safety program is to provide safety throughout the fire department.
• A good safety program will reduce accidents and exposures, prevent human suffering, and prevent damage/loss of equipment.
• The success of a safety program begins with the top of the chain of command.
• The fire department is responsible for limiting the number of stress-related accidents and injuries.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are available to all fire department members and their immediate families.
• A minor debriefing should occur when firefighters are required to work more than 1 shift under psychologically stressful conditions.
• Participation in critical stress debriefing should be mandatory, regardless of the employees ability to cope with situations.
• EAPs should provide referrals to health care services when necessary.
• Firefighters should be aware of cardiovascular and cancer risks.
• The most common danger a firefighter faces is riding the fire apparatus.
• Firefighters riding in open-cab seats should wear helmet and eye protection.
• Hearing protection should be worn when noise levels exceed 90 decibels.
• The best place for a firefighter to be on a fire apparatus is seated and belted in a fully enclosed cab.
• Handrails should not be used when trying to jump free of an apparatus in contact with electrical wires.
• Use of safety bars on open-cab apparatus is not as safe as fully enclosed cabs.
• The fire department is responsible for the safety of visitors in the fire station.
• Back injuries are the most expensive type for firefighter injury in terms of worker's compensation.
• Good housekeeping is essential in preventing slip, trip, and fall accidents.
• Back strains are the most common injury when improper lifting and carrying techniques are used.
• Cheater bars should never be used to provide extra leverage for a tool.
• Tools should be inspected before and after each use.
• A tool should not be modified before consulting the manufacturer.
• Tools should be cleaned and stored after each use.
• It is never acceptable to bypass the ground plug of a 3-prong plug.
• Rotary and Chain saws are the most commonly used saws in the fire service.
• Saws should be allowed to cool before refueling.
• No power saw should be used in atmospheres containing flammables.
• Non-essential persons should always be kept out of work areas.
• A hoseline should be available any time a power saw that produce sparks is used.
• NFPA 1500 requires that personnel who may engage in structural firefighting, participate in training at least monthly.
• All personnel participating in training must wear full protective gear.
• Before training, personnel with severe headaches or colds should be given a physical exam to determine their fitness for tasks at hand.
• It is considered unprofessional for firefighters to take unnecessary risks.
• Horseplay during training can be prevented by ensuring everyone can see demonstrations and allow all to participate in activities.
• Firefighter actions may be limited by the IC based on the chances of the operation being successful.
• Firefighters are not responsible for the situation of victims.  They are only there to help.
• Law enforcement personnel is usually responsible for emergency scene control, however, fire personnel may assist.
• It is the responsibility of the IC to secure and manage an emergency scene.
• Friends and relatives of victims should be kept away from the actual incident, but within the cordoned area with a firefighter or other person.
• Establishing zone boundaries depends on work area needed, degree of hazard, and general topography.
• Firefighter ID tags should be turned in prior to entering the fireground.
• The SCBA tag system provides accountability in addition to tracking of time remaining for air bottles.
• Personnel Accountability Systems should also account for personnel who respond to a scene in vehicles other than fire department apparatus.
• Personnel entering hazardous atmospheres will have a record of time of entry and time of exit.
• Relief crews are sent in shortly before the estimated time that the first crew's SCBA low-pressure alarms will sound.