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It is important to perform an IMSAFE as part of your personal welfare before you attend an operation, and report any issues to your Officer in Charge, or your Team Leader. If you are "on duty", you should be fully fit and be able to answer all questions below positively.
| I |
Illness or Injury |
Am I suffering from any Illness or Injury?
Am I sufficiently recovered from any Injury or Illness? |
| M |
Medications |
Am I under the influence of any medications? Do the medications cause drowsiness?
Medications often contain the message: ‘This medication may cause drowsiness and may increase the effects of alcohol. If affected, do not operate a motor vehicle or operate machinery’. |
| S |
Stress |
Am I under severe stress from work or personal worries?
Is this likely to cause me to be distracted?
Should you be at work or home? How is the boss or your spouse going to react to you being away? |
| A |
Alcohol and drugs |
Am I under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
Under no circumstance, emergency or otherwise, should you be working at a rescue operation if you exceed the legal prescribed level of blood alcohol of 0.05%.
Note: It would be preferable if rescue operators had a blood alcohol level of 0.00%.
Are you still hung over?
Remember it takes quite some hours to break down the alcohol in your system – you still may be over 0.05%. |
| F |
Fatigue |
Am I tired?
Have I had adequate rest?
Remember – Your performance after 17 hours awake is similar to that caused by a blood alcohol level of 0.05%.
After 23 hours awake it is similar to that caused by a blood alcohol level of 0.12%. |
| E |
Expertise |
Do I possess the competency or level of experience to undertake the rescue operation?
Have I maintained the required level of skill through practice? |
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