Maharashtra SSC Civil Defence & Road Safety Grade key terms

Organised measures taken to protect civilians, reduce damage to property and keep essential services running during war, disaster or other emergency, using trained volunteers and official coordination.

A trained volunteer who supervises a small local area, warns residents of danger, guides them to shelters, checks on vulnerable people and reports damage to higher authorities.

An official siren or alert signalling that enemy aircraft or missiles are approaching, telling people to move quickly to shelters and switch off lights and gas.

The enforced switching off or covering of all lights at night so that buildings and roads are not visible from the air, reducing the risk of being targeted by bombers.

A standard management structure that assigns clear roles for command, operations, planning, logistics and finance at an emergency scene, so that many agencies can work together without confusion.

The single person in overall charge at an emergency scene, responsible for setting objectives, allocating resources and ensuring safety until the incident is closed or handed over.

A fixed control room from which officials coordinate information, resources and decisions during a major emergency, linking field teams with government departments and support agencies.

The statutory body at district level that prepares disaster plans, coordinates departments and relief agencies, and directs response and recovery work within its jurisdiction.

The line of authority through which orders and reports pass, ensuring each volunteer or official answers to one named superior and knows exactly from whom to take instructions.

Immediate, temporary care given to an injured or suddenly ill person before professional medical help arrives, aimed at preserving life, preventing worsening and promoting recovery.

A rapid check of the airway, breathing and circulation, plus severe bleeding and consciousness, performed first at any incident to find and treat immediately life-threatening problems.

Rhythmic chest compressions, with rescue breaths if trained, given to a person whose heart has stopped, to keep blood flowing to the brain until advanced help is available.

A portable device that analyses heart rhythm and delivers a controlled electric shock when advised, guiding the rescuer with spoken prompts during a sudden cardiac arrest.

A stable side-lying posture for an unconscious person who is breathing, which keeps the airway open and lets fluids drain out instead of blocking breathing.

The first period after serious injury or sudden illness during which rapid assessment and treatment most improve the chance of survival and full recovery.

Sorting casualties by the urgency of their condition so that limited rescuers and ambulances treat those needing immediate life-saving help first, while others wait safely.

A temporary, safe treatment point set up near an incident where casualties are received, triaged, given first aid and prepared for transport to hospital.

The process of deciding which casualties are moved first and to which hospital, based on injury severity, available beds and travel time, so that resources are used efficiently.

The three elements needed for any fire: fuel, oxygen and heat. Removing any one of them extinguishes the fire or prevents it from starting.

Groupings of fires by the material burning, such as solid, flammable liquid, gas, metal and electrical fires, which determine the correct extinguisher to use safely.

The sudden spread of fire across all combustible surfaces in a room when trapped heat ignites them almost at once, making escape impossible after that point.

The total amount of combustible material present in a space, measured as heat energy per unit area, which indicates how severe and long a fire there could become.

Breathing in hot gases, soot and toxic products of burning, the commonest cause of death in building fires, which can cause unconsciousness within minutes.

A valved connection on a water main that lets firefighters attach hoses and draw water quickly, and which must be kept clear of parked vehicles and obstructions.

A sudden or slow-onset event, natural or human-made, that causes damage, loss of life and disruption so severe that the affected community cannot cope without outside help.

A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury, property damage or environmental harm if it occurs in a vulnerable place.

The conditions, such as weak buildings, poverty or lack of awareness, that make people or property more likely to be harmed when a hazard strikes.

The repeating sequence of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation through which societies reduce disaster risk and rebuild after events.

A written document setting out hazards, vulnerable areas, roles of each agency, resources, warning systems and step-by-step actions to be taken before, during and after a disaster.

A planned rehearsal in which volunteers and officials practise an emergency response, testing warning systems, evacuation routes, first aid and coordination before a real incident occurs.

A marked, kept-clear path leading people safely out of a building or area to a assembly point, shown by signs and practised during drills.

A pre-arranged open place where evacuees gather and are counted after leaving a building, so that rescuers know whether anyone is still trapped inside.

A standard board or marking that uses shape, colour and symbol to warn of hazards, order a restriction or guide road users, understood without reading any language.

A circular sign, usually red-bordered, that imposes a legal requirement such as stopping, giving way, keeping left or not exceeding a stated speed.

A triangular sign with a red border that warns drivers in advance of a hazard such as a bend, school, narrow bridge or level crossing, so they can slow down.

Lines, arrows and painted symbols on the road surface that guide lane discipline, show where overtaking is allowed and mark crossings, junctions and parking limits.

A pedestrian crossing marked by broad white stripes where people on foot have priority and vehicles must slow down and stop to let them cross safely.

Rules and habits that protect people on foot, such as walking on the footpath or facing oncoming traffic, using crossings and being visible at night.

The legal requirement for riders and pillion passengers of two-wheelers to wear a certified helmet fastened correctly, reducing head injury in a crash.

A strap fitted in a vehicle that holds occupants in place during sudden braking or collision, preventing them from being thrown forward or out of the vehicle.

A style of driving in which the driver anticipates other people's mistakes, keeps a safe following distance and stays ready to stop or avoid danger.

The gap kept behind a vehicle ahead, commonly the distance covered in two or three seconds, so that a sudden stop can be matched without collision.

Loss of grip between tyres and road, often on wet or oily surfaces or during hard braking, causing the vehicle to slide out of the driver's control.

An organised effort by civil defence or traffic authorities to teach residents about hazards, first aid, fire safety and road rules through camps, street plays, leaflets and school sessions.

The process of finding, enrolling and training local people willing to serve in civil defence, rescue or awareness work without regular pay.