Prior to ventilation, what must be done to ignition sources?

To ensure the safety of both the rescuers and the individuals they are assisting, controlling ignition sources is crucial prior to initiating ventilation. This is because the presence of flammable gases, vapors, or other potential ignition sources can lead to dangerous explosions or fires if not managed properly. By controlling these ignition sources, you mitigate the risk of sparking a fire or causing an explosion when ventilation is introduced, which may disturb the environment and disperse harmful substances.

Effective control could involve isolating or removing sources of ignition, ensuring that equipment or ignition sources are not operational in the vicinity, and applying necessary safety protocols to prevent any ignition during the ventilation process. This step is a fundamental part of risk management in rescue operations.