Firefighter Practice Exam

Which of the following was not suggested for personnel protection when dealing with certain chemicals?

1. Keep upwind of the chemical.

2. Wear self-contained breathing apparatus.

3. Avoid bodily contact with the chemical.

4. Any chemical that may inadvertently contact the body should be washed off with large amounts of alcohol.

The correct answer is: Any chemical that may inadvertently contact the body should be washed off with large amounts of alcohol.

The suggestion to wash off any chemical that may inadvertently contact the body with large amounts of alcohol is not valid for personal protection when dealing with certain chemicals. This is because using alcohol can often exacerbate the situation by potentially worsening skin irritation or chemical burns rather than neutralizing or removing the harmful substance. In hazardous material situations, the appropriate first response for skin contact is typically to rinse the affected area thoroughly with large quantities of water to dilute and wash away the chemical. Alcohol is not an appropriate cleaning agent for many chemicals, as it may react negatively or not effectively remove the chemical from the skin. Therefore, focusing on using water as the initial rinse agent aligns with commonly accepted safety protocols for chemical exposure.