Rescue Operations Flashcards

The Incident Command System (ICS) principle of 'span of control' recommends one supervisor manage how many personnel?

Answer: 3 to 7

Optimal ICS span of control is 3–7 subordinates per supervisor, with 5 being ideal, to maintain effective oversight.

During a trench rescue, soil type is critical because:

Answer: Loose or saturated soil (Type C) collapses without warning and with extreme force

Type C soil is the least stable; a cubic yard weighs ~3,000 lbs and can collapse in seconds, making shoring mandatory before entry.

A victim is found in a grain silo with suspected engulfment. Which rescue approach is correct?

Answer: Establish a tube coffer dam around the victim before extraction begins

A tube coffer dam (sheet panels or grain rescue tubes) inserted around the victim relieves pressure and prevents further engulfment during extraction.

On arrival at an active shooter / MCI scene, EMS should stage at which zone?

Answer: Cold zone at a pre-designated assembly point

EMS stages in the cold zone until law enforcement secures a warm or rescue task force zone, preventing additional casualties.

Which knot is MOST appropriate for creating a fixed loop in the middle of a rescue rope?

Answer: Figure-8 on a bight

The figure-8 on a bight creates a strong, easy-to-inspect fixed loop in the middle or end of a rope and is the standard rescue knot.

A patient extricated from a cold-water drowning is pulseless. The correct action is:

Answer: Begin CPR and transport; do not pronounce death until the patient is warm

'Not dead until warm and dead' — hypothermia can mimic death; aggressive rewarming during CPR is indicated before terminating resuscitation.

Personal flotation devices (PFDs) used in swift-water rescue must be rated as which USCG type?

Answer: Type III or Type V whitewater-rated PFD

Type III or Type V whitewater-specific PFDs provide the mobility and rescue features required for swift-water operations.