KEY TERMS EXAM PREP: CHAPTER 1 WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Acute - CORRECT ANSWER-Sharp or severe; having a rapid onset and short duration.
All-Hazard Concept - CORRECT ANSWER-Provides a coordinated approach to a wide variety of incidents;
all responders use a similar, coordinated approach with a common set of authorities, protections, and
resources.
Atypically Stressful Event - CORRECT ANSWER-Term used in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
standards to describe incidents that have a likelihood of causing critical incident stress.
Battallion - CORRECT ANSWER-Fire department organizational subdivision consisting of several fire
service companies in a designated geographical area. A battalion is usually the first organizational level
above individual companies or stations.
Body Substance Isolation (BSI) - CORRECT ANSWER-Comprehensive method of infection control in which
every patient is assumed to be infected; personal protective equipment is worn to prevent exposure to
bodily fluids and blood-borne and airborne pathogens.
Carcinogen - CORRECT ANSWER-Cancer-producing substance.
Chain of Command - CORRECT ANSWER-Order of rank and authority in the fire and emergency services.
Chronic - CORRECT ANSWER-Long-term and reoccurring.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - CORRECT ANSWER-Term for several diseases that result
in obstructive problems in the airways.
, Code - CORRECT ANSWER-A collection of rules and regulations that has been enacted by law in a
particular jurisdiction. Codes typically address a single subject area; examples include a mechanical,
electrical, building, or fire code.
Code Enforcement - CORRECT ANSWER-Process of enforcing a body of law aimed at reducing fire and
life-safety hazards as well as mandating the proper installation and maintenance of building/structure
fire and life-safety features to provide adequate community fire prevention.
Cold Zone - CORRECT ANSWER-Safe area outside of the warm zone where equipment and personnel are
not expected to become contaminated and special protective clothing is not required; the Incident
Command Post and other support functions are typically located in this zone.
Community Risk Reduction (CRR) - CORRECT ANSWER-The fire department's or other agency's
identification and prioritization of risks to the community followed by the integrated application of
resources to improve public safety through minimizing the probability or occurrence and/or the impact
of unfortunate events.
Company - CORRECT ANSWER-Basic fire fighting organizational unit consisting of firefighters and
apparatus; headed by a company officer.
Culture - CORRECT ANSWER-The shared assumptions, beliefs, and values of a group or organization.
Generator - CORRECT ANSWER-Portable device for generating auxiliary electrical power; generators are
powered by gasoline or diesel engines and typically have 110- and/or 220-volt capacity outlets.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) - CORRECT ANSWER-Device designed to protect against electrical
shock; when grounding occurs, the device opens a circuit to shut off the flow of electricity.
Ground Gradient - CORRECT ANSWER-Electrical field that radiates outward from where the current
enters the ground; its intensity dissipates rapidly as distance increases from the point of entry.
Hazard - CORRECT ANSWER-Condition, substance, or device that can directly cause injury or loss; the
source of a risk.