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Glossary E TYPE COUPLER A type of shelf coupler with a vertical restraint mechanism on the top and/or bottom. It serves to reduce the potential for coupler disengagement in a rail accident. EARTH STATION A complete satellite receiving or transmitting station including the antenna, electronic and all associated equipment necessary to receive or transmit satellite signals. Also known as a ground station. EC European Community ECOSYSTEM A habitat formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment. EDEMA The swelling of body tissues resulting from fluid retention. EDUCTION The act of extracting a substance unchanged from another substance. A method of removing water from below grade using the Venturi Principle. EDUCTOR Proportioning device that draws foam concentrate into the water flowing through a hoseline or pipe by a venturi principal. EGRESS A place or means of going out of a structure. EKG See Electrocardiogram. ELASTOMER The class of synthetic polymers that have the stretch and recovery properties of rubber. ELECTROCARDIOGRAM The written record of the electric activity of a heart. ELECTROLYTE A substance that dissociates into ions when in solution and conducts electricity. In hazardous materials usually any of several minerals lost due to perspiration during an incident. ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE A chemical imbalance in the body due to the loss of minerals. ELEMENT The simplest form of a substance and the basic building block of chemistry. ELEVATED MASTER STREAM Fire stream in excess of 350 gpm (I 400 L/min) that is deployed from the tip of an aerial device. ELEVATED STORAGE SYSTEM A system of storing impounded water supplies above the grade level at which the water will be used. ELEVATING BOOM The elevating mechanisms for platform apparatus are constructed with jointed booms of more than one section or extendable sections. ELEVATING PLATFORM APPARATUS A hydraulically raised platform mounted on fire apparatus and designed for rescue and fire fighting service. ELEVATION LOSS See Elevation Pressure. ELEVATION PRESSURE Gain or loss of pressure in a hoseline due to a change in elevation. Also called Elevation Loss. ELLIPTICAL Describes a large cylindrical, oblong water tank that is used on tankers or tender. ELONGATION Stretching under load. EMERGENCY A sudden and unexpected event calling for immediate remedial action. EMERGENCY ESCAPE SYSTEM A minimum five-minute respirator allowing emergency evacuation from an area. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC) The site where government agency officials or senior managers from organizations provide central direction and control of a major emergency. The EOC usually deals with the political, governmental, legal, insurance, community, and public affairs issues related to the emergency. The operational aspects of the emergency are managed by the on-scene Incident Command Post (ICP). See Incident Command Post. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ORGANIZATION An organization that utilizes personnel trained in emergency response. This would include fire, law enforcement, EMS, and industrial emergency response teams. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL Personnel assigned to organizations that have the responsibility for responding to different types of emergency situations. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN A plan that establishes guidelines for handling flammable liquids incidents as required by regulations such as SARA, Title III, and HAZWOPER (29 CFR 1910.120). EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (ERT) Crews of specially trained personnel used within industrial facilities for the control and mitigation of emergency situations. May consist of both shift personnel with ERT responsibilities as part of their job assignment (e.g., plant operators) or volunteer members. ERTs may be responsible for both fire, hazmat, medical, and technical rescue emergencies, depending upon the size and operation of the facility. EMERGENCY SHUTOFF LEVER An automatic or manually operated safety valve control that stops the flow of a liquid. EMERGENCY TRUCK Van or similar-type vehicle used to carry portable equipment and personnel. EMERGENCY VALVE A self-closing tank outlet valve. EMERGENCY VALVE OPERATOR A device used to open and close emergency valves. EMERGENCY VALVE REMOTE OPERATOR A secondary closing means, remote from tank discharge openings, for operation in event of fire or other accident. EMS (EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES) Functions as required to provide emergency medical care for ill or injured persons by trained providers. EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATE Material mixed with a solvent (usually petroleum) that forms an emulsion when mixed with water for application. EMULSIFICATION The process of dispersing one liquid in a second immiscible liquid. The largest group of emulsifying agents is soaps, detergents, and other compounds whose basic structure is a paraffin chain terminating in a polar group. EMULSION A mixture in which one liquid is suspended as tiny drops in another liquid, such as oil in water. ENCRYPTION A system that takes the signal and scrambles it to make it unusable without a decoder. END USER For the purpose of this glossary, this term is used to identify specifically the party requiring protective clothing. ENDOTHERMIC A process or chemical reaction, which is accompanied by absorption of heat. ENDOTHERMIC REACTION Heat is absorbed during the reaction. Chemical reactions in which, during the formation of chemical compounds, heat is absorbed. Nearly all-endothermic compounds are unstable; that is, they decompose very easily. Explosives are usually endothermic. ENGINE A fire department pumper. ENGINE COMPANY A complement of firefighters equipped with a pumper or pumping engine. ENGINE HOUSE A firehouse or fire station. ENGINE PRESSURE See Net Pump Discharge Pressure. ENGINEER A driver and operator of fire apparatus; a fire protection or fire prevention person qualified by credentials. See Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator. ENTRY SUIT (FIRE) A type of suit that provides protection for brief entry into total flame environment at temperatures as high as 2,000•F. This suit is not effective or meant to be used for rescue operations. Respiratory protection must be provided with fire entry suits. ENVIRONMENT Water, air, and land and the interrelationship that exists among and between them and all living things. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The measurement or prediction of the transport, dispersion, and final location of a released hazardous substance. ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES Incidents involving the release (or potential release) of hazardous materials into the environment, which may require immediate corrective action. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD A condition capable of posing an unreasonable risk to air, water, or soil quality, and to plants and wildlife. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) The purpose of the EPA is to protect and enhance our environment today and for future generations to the fullest extent possible under the laws enacted by Congress. The Agency's mission is to control and abate pollution in the areas of water, air, solid waste, pesticides, noise, and radiation. EPA's mandate is to mount an integrated, coordinated attack on environmental pollution in cooperation with state and local governments. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE Samples that are considered to contain no contaminants or low concentrations of contaminants. EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal refers to military or civilian bomb squads. EPA The purpose of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect and enhance our environment today and for future generations to the fullest extent possible under the laws enacted by Congress. The Agency's mission is to control and abate pollution in the areas of water, air, solid waste, pesticides, noise and radiation. The EPA's mandate is to mount an integrated, coordinated attack on environmental pollution in cooperation with state and local governments. EPA REGISTRATION NUMBER The number that appears on the pesticide label to identify the individual pesticide product. May appear as "EPA Reg. NO." EPISODE Incident ETIOLOGIC AGENT A living microorganism that may cause human disease, e.g., germs. Those living organisms or their toxins that contributes to the cause of infection, disease, or other abnormal condition. ETIOLOGY The scientific study of origins or causes of disease. EURONORM (EN) OR EUROPEAN STANDARD A European Community (EC) standard that carries with it the obligation to be implemented at a national level and having priority over any conflicting national standard in EC member nations. EVACUATION A population protection strategy involving orderly movement of people away from an actual or potential hazard, and providing reception centers for those without their own resources for temporary relocation. EVALUATION REPORT FORM A form used by supervisors on which they record their impressions concerning the degree of effectiveness of subordinates. EVAPORATION The conversion of a material from liquid state to vapor state below the material's boiling point. EVAPORATION RATE The rate at which a liquid changes to vapor at normal room temperature. EVOLUTION A sequential operation; a part of fire service training covering one aspect or one fire fighting task such as the placement of hose or ladders. EXCESS FLOW VALVE A safety valve designed to shut off the flow of a liquid when the flow rate exceeds a set rate. Valves installed in the liquid eduction lines beneath the manway cover plate, in the vapor line, in the bottom of the gauging rod, and in the test tube line of tank cars. They are designed to close automatically in case an external closure valve is broken off or removed during transit. Excess flow valves are a mandatory requirement on tank cars transporting flammable compressed gases. EXCESS FLOW VALVE (INTERNAL) An excess flow valve constructed and installed so that the seat remains in the container so that damage to the valve parts exterior to the container will not prevent effective seating to the valve. EXCLUSIONARY VALVE A one-way inlet or outlet valve. May be referred to as a check valve. EXIT A means for going out of a structure through normal openings. A fire exit is especially designed and located for the emergency evacuation of an area. EXOTHERMIC Chemical reaction in which heat is given off during the formation of chemical compounds. An example is the heat given off during the formation of carbon dioxide produced by the chemical reaction of oxygen with carbon during a fire. Most exothermic compounds are stable; that is, they cannot be easily decomposed. A reaction that produces heat. EXOTHERMIC REACTION Reaction that produces heat. EXPANSION RATIO The amount of gas produced from a given volume of liquid escaping from a container at a given temperature. EXPANSION RINGS The metal ring that, when expanded, holds the fire hose securely in the end of the coupling. EXPLOSION-PROOF CONSTRUCTION Encases the electrical equipment in a rigidly built container so that (1) it withstands the internal explosion of a flammable mixture, and (2) it prevents propagation to the surrounding flammable atmosphere. Used in Class I, Division 1 atmospheres at fixed installations. EXPLOSIVE A A material capable of burning or bursting suddenly and violently. EXPLOSIVE HAZARD CLASS I Any substance or article, including a device, which is designed to function by explosion or which, by chemical reaction within itself, is able to function in a similar manner even if not designed to function by explosion. Division 1.1- Explosive with mass explosion hazard. Division 1.2- Explosive with projection hazard. Division 1.3- Explosive with fire, minor blast, or minor projection hazard. Division 1.4- Explosive device with minor explosion hazard. Division 1.5- Very insensitive explosives. Division 1.6- Extremely insensitive explosives. EXPLOSIVE LIMITS Same as Flammable Limits. EXPOSURE Property that may be endangered by a fire. Potential for contamination from a hazardous substance. EXPOSURES People, property, or the environment that are or that may be exposed to the harmful effects of a hazardous materials emergency. EXTEND A line may be extended by adding additional hose or by straightening or rerouting hose that has already been laid. Also, to extend the reach of a ladder. EXTENSION LADDER A sectional ladder of two or more parts that may be extended to various heights. EXTERNAL FLOATER An indicating device located on the outside of some outside storage tanks to show the level of product contained inside. A bulk liquid storage tank whose roof moves relative to the liquid level inside the tank. EXTERNAL WATER SUPPLY Any water supply to a fire pump from a source other than the vehicle's own water tank; any water supply to an aerial device from a source other than the vehicles own fire pump. EXTINGUISH To put out a fire completely. EXTINGUISHER A portable firefighting appliance designed for use on specific types and classes of fire and fuel. EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE A liquid pesticide that has a flash point of 20 degrees F (-6.67 degrees C) or lower, determined by closed cup or Seta flash test. |
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