Articles
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U.S.A.R
Urban Search and Rescue.
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UHF
Ultrahigh frequency; the portion of the radio frequency spectrum between 300 and 3,000 mHz.
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UL listing
A certification standard. This listing means the product has been safety certified by the Underwriter’s Laboratory.
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ulcer
An open lesion of the skin or mucous membrane.
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ulna
The larger bone of the forearm, on the side opposite that of the thumb.
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Ultimate Capacity
Total capacity of water supply system, including residential and industrial consumption, available fire flow, and all other taxes on the system.
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umbilical cord
A flexible structure connecting the fetus to the placenta.
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umbilicus
The navel; the "bellybutton".
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unconscious
A state of being insensible or comatose.
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Under Control
Fire or spill etc. is no longer spreading. The situation is contained. This term should not be confused with a report that the fire is out.
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Undercarriage
Portion of a vehicle’s frame that is located beneath the vehicle.
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Underground storage tank
A tank that happens to be underground.
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Understory burn
A controlled burn of fuels below the forest canopy, intended to remove fuels from on-coming or potential fires.
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Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Independent fire research and testing laboratory
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Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Independent fire research and testing laboratory
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unifocal
Arising from a single site.
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Unincorporated
Portion of a state/province outside the jurisdiction of municipalities that does not provide an inspection program
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Unincorporated
Portion of a state/province outside the jurisdiction of municipalities that does not provide an inspection program
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United States Fire Administration (USFA)
Division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which in turn is managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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Universal precautions
The use of safety barriers (gloves, mask, goggles) to limit an emergency responder’s contact with contaminants, especially fluids of injured patients.
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Unlined Hose
Fire hose without a rubber lining; most frequently used in interior standpipe systems and in wildland firefighting.
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Unloading Site
Place in the water shuttle operation where tankers unload their water into portable tanks. Also called the Dump Site.
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unstable angina
(preinfarction angina) Angina pectoris characterized by a changing, unpredictable pattern of pain, which often signals an impending acute myocardial infarction.
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Upper Flammable Limit (UFL)
Upper limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite; above this limit, the gas or vapor is too rich (lacks the proper quantity of oxygen) to burn
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Upper Flammable Limit (UFL)
Upper limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite; above this limit, the gas or vapor is too rich (lacks the proper quantity of oxygen) to burn
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Urban interface
The Interface zone where man-made structures inter-mingle with wildlands, creating risk of structural involvement in a wildland fire incident and wildland fire involvement in structure fires, each of which requires different equipment, training and tactics.
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uremia
A toxic condition caused by the inability of the kidneys to remove waste products of metabolism.