ceiling.
Therefore, if possible, use an oxygen
breathing apparatus or other protective breathing
equipment when you go into a burning compartment.
If protective equipment is not available, cover your
mouth and nose with a wet cloth to reduce the danger of
inhaling smoke, flame, or hot air.
CAUTION: A WET CLOTH GIVES YOU
NO PROTECTION AGAINST POISONOUS
GASES OR LACK OF OXYGEN!
RESCUE FROM STEAM-FILLED SPACES.—
It is sometimes possible to rescue a person from a space
in which there is a steam leak. Since steam rises,
escape upward may not be possible. If the normal exit
is blocked by escaping steam, move the casualty to the
escape trunk or, if there is none, to the lowest level in
the compartment.
RESCUE FROM ELECTRICAL CONTACT.—
Rescuing a person who has received an electrical
shock is likely to be difficult and dangerous. Extreme
caution must be used, or you may be electrocuted
yourself.
CAUTION: YOU MUST NOT TOUCH
THE VICTIM’S BODY, THE WIRE, OR
ANY OTHER OBJECT THAT MAY BE
CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY.
First of all, look for the switch. If you find the
switch, turn off the current immediately. Do not waste
too much time hunting for the switch: Every second is
important.
If you cannot find the switch, try to remove the
wire from the victim with a DRY broom handle,
branch, pole, oar, board, or similar NONCON-
DUCTING object. It may be possible to use a DRY
rope or DRY clothing to pull the wire away from the
victim. You can also break the contact by cutting
the wire with a WOODEN-HANDLED axe, but
this is extremely dangerous because the cut ends of
the wire are likely to curl and lash back at you
before you have time to get out of the way. When
you are trying to break an electrical contact, always
stand on some nonconducting material such as a
DRY board, DRY newspapers, or DRY clothing.
See figure 3–26.
RESCUE FROM UNVENTILATED COM-
PARTMENTS.—Rescuing a person from a void,
double bottom, gasoline or oil tank, or any closed
compartment or unventilated space is generally a very
hazardous operation. Aboard naval vessels and at
naval shore stations, no person is permitted to enter any
such space or compartment until a damage control
officer (DCO), or some person designated by the DCO,
has indicated that the likelihood of suffocation,
poisoning, and fire or explosion has been eliminated as
far as possible. The rescue of a person from any closed
space should therefore be performed under the
supervision of the DCO or in accordance with the
DCO’s instructions. In general, it is necessary to
observe the following precautions when attempting to
rescue a person from any closed or poorly ventilated
space:
If possible, test the air for oxygen deficiency,
poisonous gases, and explosive vapors.
Wear a hose (air line) mask or oxygen breathing
apparatus. The air line mask is preferred for use
in spaces that may contain high concentrations
of oil or gasoline vapors. Do not depend upon a
protective mask or a wet cloth held over your
face to protect you from oxygen deficiency or
poisonous gases.
Before going into a compartment that may
contain explosive vapors, be sure that people are
stationed nearby with fire-extinguishing
equipment.
3-16
Figure 3–26.—Moving a victim away from an electrical line.
