F89 Non-Fire Emergencies 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a building power outage, what is the Fire and Life Safety Director's FIRST priority regarding elevators?
- Restore power by contacting the utility company
- Ensure all elevators are recalled to the ground floor and passengers are safely evacuated (Correct answer)
- Lock elevator lobbies to prevent access
- Dispatch maintenance to manually operate elevators
Correct answer: Ensure all elevators are recalled to the ground floor and passengers are safely evacuated
During a power outage, the FLSD must immediately ensure elevator recall so any trapped occupants can be evacuated safely.
Question 2: A credible bomb threat has been received via phone. Which action should the Fire and Life Safety Director take FIRST?
- Immediately evacuate the entire building
- Notify law enforcement and follow the building's bomb threat response plan (Correct answer)
- Search the building independently before calling authorities
- Announce the threat over the PA system to alert occupants
Correct answer: Notify law enforcement and follow the building's bomb threat response plan
The FLSD must immediately notify law enforcement and activate the bomb threat plan; the decision to evacuate is typically made in coordination with police.
Question 3: An occupant reports smelling a strong gas odor in the building. What should the FLSD do IMMEDIATELY?
- Ventilate the area by opening windows and doors
- Prohibit use of electrical switches or open flames and notify the gas utility and fire department (Correct answer)
- Locate the source of the leak before calling for help
- Evacuate only the affected floor and resume normal operations
Correct answer: Prohibit use of electrical switches or open flames and notify the gas utility and fire department
Any ignition source could trigger an explosion, so the FLSD must eliminate ignition risks and immediately contact the utility company and fire department.
Question 4: When a hazardous material spill occurs in the building lobby, the FLSD should establish a perimeter primarily to:
- Allow emergency responders faster vehicle access
- Prevent unauthorized persons from entering the contaminated area and limit exposure (Correct answer)
- Give media personnel a safe vantage point
- Comply with OSHA documentation requirements
Correct answer: Prevent unauthorized persons from entering the contaminated area and limit exposure
A perimeter protects building occupants and responders from secondary exposure to the hazardous material.
Question 5: During a medical emergency involving a suspected cardiac arrest, what is the correct sequence for the FLSD?
- Call 911, send someone for the AED, begin CPR if trained (Correct answer)
- Begin CPR immediately, then call 911 after five minutes
- Wait for EMS to arrive before touching the patient
- Use the AED first, then call 911
Correct answer: Call 911, send someone for the AED, begin CPR if trained
Activating EMS, retrieving the AED, and beginning CPR as early as possible are the three simultaneous priorities in cardiac arrest response.
Question 6: A water main break has flooded the building basement. Which concern should the FLSD prioritize above all others?
- Preserving equipment stored in the basement
- Electrical hazards from submerged panels and wiring (Correct answer)
- Filing an insurance claim immediately
- Removing water to prevent odor
Correct answer: Electrical hazards from submerged panels and wiring
Flooded electrical equipment poses an immediate electrocution risk that must be addressed before personnel enter the area.
Question 7: Which document should the FLSD consult first when an unknown suspicious package is found in the mailroom?
- The building's lease agreements
- The building's emergency action plan or suspicious mail/package protocol (Correct answer)
- The local zoning ordinance
- The fire code section on hazardous materials
Correct answer: The building's emergency action plan or suspicious mail/package protocol
The building's emergency action plan includes a suspicious package protocol that outlines isolation, notification, and evacuation procedures.
F89 Non-Fire Emergencies 4
During a building power outage, what is the Fire and Life Safety Director's FIRST priority regarding elevators?