emt 39 vocab

access

gaining entry to an enclosed area and reaching a patient

command post

the location of the incident commander at the scene of an emergency and where command, coordination, control, and communication are centralized

complex access

entry that requires special tools and training and includes the use of force

danger zone (hot zone)

an area where people can be exposed to hazards such as electric wires, sharp metal edges, broken glass, toxic substances, radiation, or fire

entrapment

to be caught (trapped) within a vehicle, room, or container with no way out or to have a limb or other body part trapped

extrication

removal of a patient from entrapment or a dangerous situation or position, such as removal from a wrecked vehicle, industrial incident, or collapsed building

hazardous materials

any substances that are toxic, poisonous, radioactive, flammable, or explosive and cause injury or death with exposure

incident commander

the individual who has overall command of the incident in the field

safe zone

an area of protection providing safety from the danger zone (hot zone)

self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

respirator with independent air supply used by firefighters to enter toxic and otherwise dangerous atmospheres

simple access

access that is easily achieved without the use of tools or force

size-up

the ongoing process of information gathering and scene evaluation to determine appropriate strategies and tactics to manage an emergency

special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team

a specialized law enforcement tactical unit

structure fire

a fire in a house, apartment building, office, school, plant, warehouse, or other building

tactical situation

a hostage, robbery, or other situation in which armed conflict is threatened or shots have been fired and the threat of violence remains

technical rescue group

a team of emergency responders from one or more departments in a region who are trained and on call for certain types of technical rescue

technical rescue situation

a rescue that requires special technical skills and equipment in one of many specialized rescue areas, such as technical rope rescue, cave rescue, and dive rescue