• Have the first aid kit topside or on the dock where you can get to it.  No one can go after the kit if it is in the middle of a burning boat.
• Have as few men on board as possible.
• Secure all switches.
• Be sure all breakages in your bonding system are repaired.
• Flow of gas must cease before you disconnect grounding wires.
• Of course the smoking lamp is out.

 

Any added precautions that you learn from your own experience should also be observed and passed along.  Be sure that all fire extinguishers, especially the hand ones, are full to capacity.  Once used they should be refilled as soon as possible even though only one tenth of the bottle was used.  Once an extinguisher’s seal is broken it should not be trusted for future use.

 

Fire fighting equipment on the boat itself should always be supplemented by an I. C. E. pump from the beach.  Four such pumps are issued to each squadron.  They must be kept in a ready to go condition and placed on the fuel dock completely set up.  This fire fighting apparatus combines foam with water, thus making it an ideal smotherer of any type fire.

 

The Lux Hand trigger release extinguisher can be used several times without loss from leakage.  However, the release valve on your large portable extinguishers is not so reliable.  Once the sealing cap is ruptured, the valve cannot be closed tightly enough to hold unexpended gas.  The unexpended CO2 will leak away.

 

Gas Mask:  Every man in the forward areas is issued a gas mask.  Your Navy Mask Mk. III or IV is as fine a mask as there is.  As long as you take care of it, it will take care of you.  You may never need it, but when you do, brother, you need it badly.  When your mask is issued to you, don’t lay it aside and forget about it.

 

• Try it on; make the proper adjustments for a good fit.
• Stow your mask in a dry place away from excessive heat.
• Keep only gas protective equipment in your carrier.
• Don’t sit or sleep on your mask.
• Inspect your mask regularly for defects.
• Remember your mask is issued only for protection against war gases.
• Don’t use it when spraying paint.
• It will not protect you from smoke or carbon monoxide, or any oxygen deficient area.

Gas can come at any time, any place, from any direction; listen and be warned and Be Ready.