When going into any space that may be deficientin oxygen or contain poisonous or explosivevapors, be sure to maintain communication withsomeone outside. Wear a lifeline, and be surethat it is tended by a competent person.Do not use, wear, or carry any object or materialthat might cause a spark. Matches, cigarettelighters, flashlights, candles or other openflames, and ordinary electrical lights mustNEVER be taken into a compartment that maycontain explosive vapors. The kind of portablelight used by cleaning parties in boilers, fueltanks, and similar places may be taken into asuspect compartment. This is a steam-tight,glove-type light whose exposed metal parts areeither made of nonsparking alloy or protected insome way so they will not strike a spark.An electrical apparatus or tool that might sparkmust never be taken into a compartment until a DCOhas indicated that it is safe to do so. When electricalequipment is used (e.g., an electric blower might beused to vent a compartment of explosive vapors), itmust be explosion proof and properly grounded.If you go into a space that may contain explosivevapors, do not wear clothing that has any exposedspark-producing metal. For example, do not wearboots or shoes that have exposed nailheads or rivets,and do not wear coveralls or other garments that mightscrape against metal and cause a spark.A particular caution must be made concerning theuse of the steel-wire lifeline in compartments that maycontain explosive vapors. If you use the line, be surethat it is carefully tended and properly grounded at alltimes. When other considerations permit, you shoulduse a rope line instead of the steel-wire lifeline whenentering compartments that may contain explosivevapors.RESCUE FROM THE WATER.—You shouldnever attempt to swim to the rescue of a drowningperson unless you have been trained in lifesavingmethods—and then only if there is no better way ofreaching the victim. A drowning person may panic andfight against you so violently that you will be unableeither to carry out the rescue or to save yourself. Evenif you are not a trained lifesaver, however, you can helpa drowning person by holding out a pole, oar, branch,or stick for the victim to catch hold of, or by throwing alifeline or some buoyant object that will support thevictim in the water.Various methods are used aboard ship to pick upsurvivors from the water. The methods used in anyparticular instance will depend upon weatherconditions, the type of equipment available aboard therescue vessel, the number of people available forrescue operations, the physical condition of the peoplerequiring rescue, and other factors. In many cases ithas been found that the best way to rescue a personfrom the water is to send out a properly trained andproperly equipped swimmer with a lifeline.It is frequently difficult to get survivors up to thedeck of the rescuing vessel, even after they have beenbrought alongside the vessel. Cargo nets are oftenused, but many survivors are unable to climb themwithout assistance. Persons equipped with lifelines(and, if necessary, dressed in anti-exposure suits) canbe sent over the side to help survivors up the nets. Ifsurvivors are covered with oil, it may take thecombined efforts of four or five people to get onesurvivor up the net.A seriously injured person should never, except inan extreme emergency, be hauled out of the water bymeans of a rope or lifeline. Special methods must bedevised to provide proper support, both to keep thevictim in a horizontal position and to provideprotection from any kind of jerking, bending, ortwisting motion. The Stokes stretcher (described laterin this chapter) can often be used to rescue an injuredsurvivor. People on the deck of the ship can then bringthe stretcher up by means of handlines. Lifepreservers, balsa wood, unicellular material, or otherflotation gear can be used, if necessary, to keep thestretcher afloat.MOVING THE VICTIM TO SAFETYLEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recognize thedifferent patient-moving devices and liftingtechniques that can be used in patient rescues.In an emergency, there are many ways to move avictim to safety, ranging from one-person carries tostretchers and spineboards. The victim’s condition andthe immediacy of danger will dictate the appropriatemethod. Remember, however, to give all necessaryfirst aidBEFORE moving the victim.3-17
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