Chapter 10: Scene Lighting, Tools, Extrication, and Tech Rescue

Question 1

Arc

Answer 1

High-temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or though a medium such as charred insulation.

Question 2

B-Post

Answer 2

Post between the front and rear doors on a four-door vehicle, or the door-handle-end post on a two-door car.

Question 3

Case-Hardened Steel

Answer 3

Steel used in vehicle constructions whose exterior has been heat treated, making it much harder than the interior metal.

Question 4

Cribbing

Answer 4

Wooden or plastic blocks used to stabilize a vehicle during vehicle extrication or debris following a structural collapse; typically 4 x 4 (100 mm) inches or larger and between 16 to 26 inches (400 mm to 650 mm) long.

Question 5

Extrication

Answer 5

Incident in which a trapped victim must be removed from a vehicle or other type of machinery.

Question 6

Generator

Answer 6

Portable device for generating auxiliary electrical power; generators are powered by gasoline or diesel engines and typically have 110- and/or 220-volt capacity outlets.

Question 7

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

Answer 7

Device designed to protect against electrical shock; when grounding occurs the device opens a circuit to shut off the flow of electricity. Also known as Ground Fault Indicator (GFI) Receptacle.

Question 8

Ground Gradient

Answer 8

Electrical field that radiates outward from where the current enters the ground; its intensity dissipates rapidly as distance increases from the point of entry.

Question 9

Hypothermia

Answer 9

Abnormally low body temperature.

Question 10

Intrinsically Safe

Answer 10

Describes equipment that is approved for use in flammable atmospheres; must be incapable of releasing enough electrical energy to ignite the flammable atmosphere.

Question 11

Inverter

Answer 11

Step-up transformer that converts a vehicle’s 12- or 24-volt DC current into 110- or 220-volt AC current.

Question 12

Lockout/Tagout Device

Answer 12

Device used to secure a machine’s power switches in order to prevent accidental re-start of the machine.

Question 13

Low-Head Dam

Answer 13

Wall-like concrete structure across a river or stream that is designed to back up water; allows water to flow over the crest and drop into a lower level. Also known as Low-Water Dam.

Question 14

Nader Pin

Answer 14

Bolt on a vehicle’s door frame that the door latches onto in order to close.

Question 15

Power Take-Off (PTO) System

Answer 15

Mechanism that allows a vehicle engine to power equipment such as a pump, winch, or portable tool; it is typically attached to the transmission.

Question 16

Pretensioner

Answer 16

Device that takes up slack in a seat belt; prevents the passenger from being thrown forward in the event of a crash.

Question 17

Safety Glass

Answer 17

Two sheets of glass laminated to a sheet of plastic sandwiched between them; the plastic layer makes the glass stronger and more shatter resistant. Most commonly used in windshields and rear windows. Also known as Laminated Glass.

Question 18

Secondary Collapse

Answer 18

Collapse that occurs after the initial collapse of a structure; common causes include aftershock (earthquake), weather conditions, and the movement of structural members.

Question 19

Stabilization

Answer 19

Preventing unwanted movement; accomplished by supporting key places between an object and the ground (or other solid anchor points).

Question 20

Tempered Glass

Answer 20

Treated glass that is stronger than plate glass or a single sheet of laminated glass; safer than regular glass because it crumbles into chunks when broken, instead of splintering into jagged shards. Most commonly used in a vehicle’s side and rear windows.

Question 21

Unibody Construction

Answer 21

Method of automobile construction in which the frame and body form one integral unit; Also known as Bird Cage Construction, Integral Frame Construction, or Unitized Construction.

Question 22

Wheel Chock

Answer 22

Block placed against the outer curve of a tire to prevent the apparatus from rolling; can be wooden, plastic, or metal. Also known as Wheel Block.