Philly Firefighter flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Main idea

The central point a passage is mostly about. The correct answer covers the whole passage, not one supporting detail, and must be supported by the text.

Inference question

A reading question asking what must follow from stated facts. Only conclusions that necessarily follow are correct; answers adding new assumptions are wrong.

Order of operations

Parentheses first, then exponents, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right. Example: 12 + 3 × (8 − 5) = 21.

Percent change formula

Percent change = (new value − old value) ÷ old value × 100. A rise from 40 to 50 is +25 percent; a fall from 50 to 40 is −20 percent.

Rate equation

Distance equals rate times time. Rearranged, time equals distance divided by rate, and rate equals distance divided by time.

Proportion cross-multiplication

For a/b = c/d, multiply a × d and b × c and set them equal. Used to scale flows, staffing, or hose lengths to a new size.

Lever balance rule

A lever balances when load × load arm equals effort × effort arm. Lengthening the effort arm reduces the force needed to move a load.

Contrapositive logic

From 'if A then B' only 'if not B then not A' validly follows. 'If B then A' and 'if not A then not B' are invalid reversals.

CPAT event order

Stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue drag, ceiling breach and pull.

Stair climb standard

Three minutes on a stepmill at 60 steps per minute wearing a 50 lb vest. The candidate must finish without stopping or using rails for support.

Hose drag technique

Pull a charged 1¾-inch line 75 feet, then 25 feet more around a 90-degree turn. Stay low, drive with the legs, and control the nozzle.

Equipment carry standard

Carry two 12-lb saws 75 feet out and 75 feet back around a drum. Grip, posture, and steady pace matter more than raw speed.

Ladder raise event

Raise a 24-foot extension ladder hand over hand, then extend it with the halyard. Both steps must be completed without dropping the ladder.

Forcible entry event

Drive a 10-lb sledgehammer into a target until the beam moves the set distance. Short, controlled strokes are more effective than wild swings.

Search event

Crawl a 150-foot maze in reduced visibility wearing gloves and a blackout mask, staying in contact with walls and following turns.

Rescue drag event

Drag a 165-lb mannequin 35 feet using a shoulder harness. Keep the back straight and pull with the legs to avoid injury.

Fire tetrahedron

The four elements needed for combustion: fuel, oxygen, heat, and chemical chain reaction. Removing any one element extinguishes the fire.

Flashover

Simultaneous ignition of all combustibles in a compartment, usually at 1,100 to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Warning signs include rollover and rapid heat rise.

Backdraft

Explosive ignition caused by sudden air entering a fuel-rich, oxygen-starved compartment. Opening the space without control can cause it.

SCBA rule of air

Turn around when the cylinder reaches half its capacity. Never remove the facepiece in a hazardous atmosphere; check the PASS device before entry.

Ground ladder angle

Place ladders at about 75 degrees, with the base one-quarter of the working length from the wall and the tip 3 to 5 feet above the roof.

Friction loss rule

Friction loss rises with the square of flow. Doubling the gallons per minute quadruples friction loss in the same hose line.

Vertical ventilation

Releasing hot gases and smoke upward through a roof opening. It must not begin until a charged attack line is ready below.

Relay pumping

Using multiple pumpers in series to move water long distances. Each engine boosts pressure so the next can maintain flow.

PASS device

Personal alert safety system worn on the body. It sounds a loud alarm if the firefighter stops moving, helping rescuers locate a downed member.

Report your own errors

Integrity requires immediately and truthfully reporting mistakes you make. Concealing an error compounds the violation and endangers the crew.

Chain of command

Route operational decisions through the company officer. Bypassing the chain is acceptable only when immediate safety requires it.

Radio report format

Identify unit and person, state the problem, give your location, and request specific resources. Keep transmissions short and clear.

On-scene conflict

Address unsafe behavior directly and calmly. If it continues, escalate to the officer rather than ignoring or publicly arguing about it.

Community interaction

Treat residents with respect, explain what you are doing, and protect their privacy. Never argue with a complainant in public.

Report writing

Record facts and times as observed. Opinions, speculation, and blame belong nowhere in an official fire report.

Refusing unsafe pranks

Declining hazing or unsafe pranks is correct even if it makes you unpopular. Peer pressure never justifies unsafe or dishonest behavior.