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You may be plagued by people claiming they're from the organisers or the local papers, but unless you can identify them, politely refer them back to the organiser.
Meanwhile, back at the Operational Area, set out the safety equipment just inside the ropes and carry out whatever checks you need on the fuelling equipment—this will save time later when the pressure's on. Show the marshallers around all the equipment. It's a good idea to keep the emergency equipment accessible, but out of sight, as the public tends to be put off by the sight of anything designed to help in emergencies (like checklists). If local fire engines are on site, rescue equipment is not necessary but take it anyway, because they will either be swamped with children sounding the sirens or be called away and you will have to stop flying until they come back.
Standard rescue equipment (for UK, at least) consists of the following:
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A vehicle capable of carrying everything—not a wheeled trolley, but something self-propelled. A car or van will do, but it must be able to go over all relevant surfaces. The ultimate is a long-wheelbase LandRover, as you will discover when you try and pull a trailer with all the stuff mentioned below with it, not to mention fuel barrels.
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11 kg Dry Chemical fire extinguishing agent, 1 x 7.5 kg CO2 or 1 x 3.5 kg BCF extinguisher and 1 x 20 gal premixed AFFF foam unit with a minimum discharge rate of 16 gallons per minute. Although the BCF extinguisher is as good
as the first two combined, the chemical is difficult to get hold of. Fire extinguishers have to be serviced every year and tested every 10, according to the BSI.
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For each marshaller, helmets with visors, flame resistant gloves, fire tunics or donkey-type jackets and stout boots. Most local fire brigades have a surplus equipment office where you can buy them.
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Release tools as follows:
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1 axe (rescue, small, non-wedging or aircraft)
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1 x 24 inch bolt cropper
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1 x 40 inch crowbar
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1 harness knife
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1 flame resistant blanket
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Medical equipment as follows:
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6 BPC9 dressings or equivalent
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6 BPC12 dressings or equivalent
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6 triangular bandages
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6 foil blankets
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1 pair scissors
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1 basic First Aid kit
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2 stretchers
BPC9 and 12 are now officially out of date, but still about, so try and get the right ones, as insurance companies will do their best to weasel out of any claim they can, and you don't want to give them an excuse.
Scissors are in the average First
Aid kit, anyway.
There should be only one entry and exit to the operational area, usually under the control of the cashier, but there's a danger of the money being taken if an emergency crops up and it’s left unattended, so you need a hefty table with a very large metal box screwed down to it, padlocked, with a slot in the top into which the money goes.
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