Hazardous Materials Response Guide

Study Notes

Emergency Response Guidebook for Incidents Involving Hazardous Materials
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or Information Sheets provided by the manufacturer for all products on-site
CANUTEC (Canadian Transport Emergency Centre, a 24-hour national emergency response advisory service) and WISER (Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders)

Avalanche terms, concepts, and equipment
Ice travel and thermal stress
Avalanche Zones:
- Starting Zone: Where the unstable snow first breaks away, characterized by incline, slope aspect, exposure to wind, elevation, and exposure to sun
- Track: Below the starting zone, where the avalanche accelerates and reaches maximum destructive potential
- Run-out Zone: Where the avalanche decelerates and finally comes to rest

Terms, concepts, and formulae
The properties and effects of mine gases
Physiological Effects of Sulphur Dioxide Exposure:
- Concentrations of SO₂ in the Atmosphere (PPM):
  - 0 - 0.25: Mild to severe irritation to eyes, nose, and throat
  - > 0.25: Life-threatening condition from accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema)

Require at least 19.5% oxygen in the air
Function in an environment with no more than 95% humidity
Protect the wearer against 1% (10,000 PPM) carbon monoxide for one hour
Generate heat when exposed to higher levels of carbon monoxide, thereby shortening the unit's duration
Wearers must be in a respirable atmosphere before removing the unit
Have a service life of 10 years and a shelf life of 15 years when properly stored
Require testing as per manufacturer's specifications

Oxygen is released by the chemical reaction of moisture from the exhaled breath mixing with the potassium superoxide (KO2)
The oxygen is inhaled from the breathing bag, which also serves as a breathing air reservoir
A heat exchanger is built into the breathing tube to cool the air before inhalation
A quick start system covers the immediate oxygen requirements of the user until the chemical of the canister becomes activated

Backpack Assembly: Designed to hold the air cylinder on the rescuer's back
Regulator: Reduces the cylinder pressure to flow and pressure levels required for inhalation
Facepiece (Mask): Designed to deliver low-pressure air from the regulator into the mouth and nose of the rescuer