Glossary

The act or process of going or being put under the surface of water or other liquid or the state of being under water or other liquid.

The collective term for systems in a mode of transport designed to protect occupants from an impact.

Used to monitor radiation levels where radioactive materials or other radiation sources are present. Generally, they are battery operated and portable.

Trained and recognised specialists with specific references within local or National Resilience capabilities.

People operating at the tactical level should form this group, which should meet at an appropriate and mutually agreed location as soon as practicable. The location should be capable of providing appropriate administrative and technical support and be suitable for holding effective meetings. For some sites, pre-existing locations may have been identified.

This indicates the decision by the incident commander about whether to deploy personnel in the hazard area or not.

The systematic or staged withdrawal of personnel from the hazard area.

In some aircraft, the tail cone can be jettisoned to deploy an evacuation slide.

A group of users communicating over one or more radio channels.

Tall buildings are those that are between 18 and 45m in height.

A team of personnel who employ specialist rescue tools and skills, with disciplines including rope rescue, swift water rescue, confined space rescue, cave rescue, trench or excavation rescue, and building collapse rescue.

The use of radio signals to transmit live and relevant data between a remote monitoring point and equipment, such as breathing apparatus (BA).

During a fire, heat can affect one side of a wall or floor causing thermal bowing resulting from the differential thermal expansion.

Occurs when a material undergoing sudden changes in temperature develops internal stresses and strains that may cause cracking and eventually failure.

The physical appearance of the natural features of an area of land, especially the shape of its surface.

A device for stopping the flow of blood through a vein or artery, typically by compressing a limb. If medical tourniquets are not available, bandages or other items can be used as an improvised tourniquet.

Also known as the windpipe, this is the tube that carries air from the throat to the lungs.

The electric power supply for rail vehicles, either delivered via rails or overhead line equipment.

A predesignated point in time, place or change in conditions, when tactics may need to be changed. Can also refer to a particular circumstance which causes an event.

Responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats.

When a person is breathing the air from the tank of their breathing apparatus (BA). This can also be referred to as ‘on air’ or ‘using air’.

Referring to roads that have not been surfaced with a hard material such as metal, asphalt, or concrete. They are usually made of earth, gravel, or sand.

After this concentration of a gas is exceeded, the gas too rich to burn and is non explosive.

In relation to moving water, the opposite direction from that in which a stream or river flows, nearer to the source. In relation to the oil, gas, refining and petrochemical industries, upstream relates to obtaining crude oil and gas from natural resources.

A medical device used to immobilise patients, especially those with suspected vertebra, pelvis or limb trauma.