The Comm Room
  • Home
    • About Me
    • Personal Website
  • Amateur Radio
    • SkyWarn >
      • What is SkyWarn?
      • Getting Started
      • What Do I Report?
      • Severe WX Reporting
      • Spotter Safety
      • Overpass Safety?
      • SkyWarn in Arizona
    • Public Service & Events >
      • 10 Ways to Optimize Your Effectiveness
      • Are You Making a Difference?
    • ARES Information >
      • ARES Net
      • Prowords
    • Emergency Communications >
      • Emergency & Disaster Radio Operating Procedures
      • ECom Do's & Don'ts
      • Emergency Management Cycle
    • Training
    • EMCOMM Bulletins >
      • RACES >
        • 1995-96
        • 1996
    • Virtual QSL Wall
  • Incident Command
    • DHS Position Paper on NIMS & the ICS
  • Emergency Preparedness
    • Emergency First Aid >
      • First Aid for Pets
    • Planning For Pets
  • Social Media
    • Social Media vs Ham Radio
  • Links & Awards
    • SkyWarn Links
    • Public Service Links
    • ECom Links
    • ICS/NIMS Links
    • Emergency Prep. Links
    • Training Links
  • Radio Logs
    • Contest Log
  • Photos

2000-01 EmComm Bulletins

TO: Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
TO: Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
FROM: Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Back

EMC288 - Confined Space Response

5/7/2001

0 Comments

 
An article in the March 2001 "Net Control" publication from Orange County RACES stimulated this bulletin. Kudos to Ray Grimes, W6RYS, Chief Radio Officer, OCRACES, for his article titled "Did You Know? First Responder Personal Safety."
Ray points out that "while it is unlikely that we would truly be "first responder, we could be called upon to provide early search and rescue planning information at an incident, and it is vital that we understand all of the issues surrounding us, in the mindset of a fireman."Federal and State OSHA regulations specify confined-space work practices. These may include use of atmosphere monitoring devices, only working in pairs with a 'buddy,' never going into the confined location if the first responder appears to have become unconscious, and wearing a harness with rope when entering tight spaces among fallen debris, and, of course, always wear a nonconductive hard hat.

"Some excellent First Responder Awareness recommendations come from the Basic Online Disaster Emergency Response project Web site (B.O.L.D.E.R.), which can be found at: www.chemicalspill.org.

"These are:
  • Establish command/control (scene management)
  • Detect the presence of hazardous materials
  • Begin identification of hazards
  • Evacuation
  • Decontamination/personnel protection
  • Isolate incident/identify zones of activity
  • Contain incident without risking exposure
  • Seek additional appropriate resources

"Some essential attitudes for responders 'first on the scene':
  • Hazardous-materials incidents are not routine calls
  • Every responder must be aware of their capabilities/limitations
  • Primary responsibility of every first responder is to promote safety for all
  • Coordinate and communicate with all agencies responding to the incident"

The article also points out that "prior to entering the confined space area, stop and assess conditions. Is your presence detrimental to the search and rescue operation? Is the space in the room only large enough for the victims, rescuers, and their equipment? Are there hazardous conditions present? If in doubt, ask the Fire Department before entering. If the firemen are wearing breathing apparatus, then that should serve as a hint that, without similar equipment, you don't belong there. Are there risks such as a natural gas leak, live wires, or running water? Running water may only be an annoyance, but it can also produce a lethal path for electricity, or a warning of possible roof collapse."
The article challenges responders to think on our feet when the adrenaline is pumping. Let's do it!

Cary Mangum, W6WWW
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    A Decade Of Emcomm
    Ale Experiences
    Amateur Radio Withdrawn!
    A Passion For Emcomm
    Are We Prepared?
    Assumptions Kill!
    Because They Care!
    Bulletin Focus
    Comfort Is An Emcomm Unit
    Confined Space Response
    Do You Know What I Mean?
    DSW Coverage Begins?
    Dsw Rules Changes
    Emergency Preparedness
    Exercise En Masse!
    Gila County EMARC (AZ)
    Hidden Jewels
    How Do You Activate?
    How Many To Involve?
    How To Create An Emcomm Unit
    Images
    Important Documents
    Indecision Can Kill
    Informing Officials
    Internet Rims
    Is RACES Unique?
    It Takes Time
    Management Or Operations
    Mutual Aid 2000
    Mutual Aid Recap
    Net Control - A Perspective
    Nsep And Shares
    Operations Techniques
    Pabulum Or Popcorn?
    Preparedness Partners
    Quakes In Mind
    Quick Quotes 1
    RACES - Amateurs Only?
    Races And The Acs
    RACES & FEMA
    Races History
    RACES History - 4
    RACES History - DCS Unit
    RACES History & FLAMES
    Races One Hour Rule
    Resource Directories!!
    Sharing Ideas
    Shortage Of Hams
    Solving The Impossible
    Statewide Comm Drill
    Successful Emcomm Units
    Synchronicity & You?
    Training Test Matrix
    Unit Activation
    Unit Life And Death
    Unit Organization
    Unsuccessful Units
    Use Volunteers? Y/N
    Volunteer Awards
    Volunteer Management
    We Don't Need It!
    Who Writes The Bulletins?
    Why We Volunteer
    Wildfire Volunteers
    Working With Volunteers
    Y2k & Good Timing

    Archives

    December 2001
    November 2001
    October 2001
    September 2001
    August 2001
    July 2001
    June 2001
    May 2001
    April 2001
    March 2001
    February 2001
    January 2001
    December 2000
    November 2000
    October 2000
    September 2000
    August 2000
    July 2000
    June 2000
    May 2000
    April 2000
    March 2000
    February 2000
    January 2000

    ACS Bulletins

    The Bulletins are addressed to the Emergency Management Agency (with sub-addresses to others) with the intent that the Radio Officer, ACS Coordinator or other unit participant will deliver them to the agency coordinator, and discuss their topics.

    RSS Feed

Search This Site:



© Copyright 2009-2022, David M. French.

All original content by David M French is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Other names, titles, and images are registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations. All rights reserved.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.