PHOTO MICHAEL J. COPPOLA Providing means of cooling firefighters is an important tactic.
After you've been in this business for a while, you dread certain types of calls, such as the "reported children trapped" call, the fire-alarm-at-the-same-building-for-the-fifth-time-today call, calls involving a GI bleed and the call for the Big One when it's 95 degrees outside. Firefighting in hot weather is, at the very best, exhausting, and at the very worst, fatal. Well, folks, I probably don't need to remind you, but summer and hot weather have arrived.
Performing any sort of heavy activity in high heat and high humidity is dangerous-so much so that the National Weather Service (NWS) now has several levels of heat advisories. A basic heat advisory indicates weather conditions with a Heat Index (HI) of 105 degrees or greater and a nighttime low HI at or above 80 degrees for 24 hours or longer. An excessive heat warning indicates weather conditions with an HI of 115 degrees or greater and a nighttime low HI at or above 80 degrees for 24 hours or longer.
SAY HELLO TO THE HI The HI combines air temperature and humidity to measure how hot it really feels. You can find information on calculating the HI on the NWS's Web site at www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/heat.php. "Caution" levels of heat exposure can result in possible fatigue, while "extreme caution" levels of exposure can result in sunstroke, muscle cramps and/or possible heat exhaustion. "Danger" levels of heat exposure can result in sunstroke, muscle cramps and/or likely heat exhaustion, while "extreme danger" levels indicate that heat stroke or sunstroke is highly likely (see sidebar).
PHOTO RON JEFFERS Make sure personnel rotate out of the high-risk area and undergo rehab.
Heat Stress Index
Below 80 degrees: Little or no danger under normal circumstances.
80–90 degrees: Caution level. Fatigue is possible if exposure is prolonged and there is physical activity.
90–105 degrees: Extreme caution level. Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible if exposure is prolonged and there is physical activity.
105–130 degrees: Danger level. Heat cramps or heat exhaustion likely. Heat stroke is possible if exposure is prolonged and there is physical activity.
Above 130 degrees: Extreme danger level. Heat stroke is imminent. (Note: Add 10 degrees when wearing protective clothing and another 10 degrees when in direct sunlight.)
KEEPING YOUR COOL Firefighting during "caution" levels ain't easy, and it becomes progressively more difficult as HI levels escalate. The NWS indicates when heat advisories are in effect, and it advises people to limit time outdoors during high-heat periods. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of choosing where/when we get called, so firefighters must know how to deal with incidents that occur in hot weather. I've always thought you can put on another layer of clothing to deal with cold-weather situations, but there are only so many articles of clothing you can remove in hot weather, particularly when you're trying to fight a fire.
To properly operate in these situations, preparation must begin long before the incident occurs; companies must have plans in place to keep their firefighters away from extreme heat exposure. (Most firefighters like to take the heat, but in hot weather, there's only so much you can bear.) One question to consider: Are stations/quarters equipped with air conditioning/cooling systems? Obviously, this will depend on normal temperatures for the station's area, whether or not the station is manned on a regular basis, whether it must be manned on an ongoing basis in an emergency situation, whether it may be used as a community shelter and other factors.
Another question: Should your apparatus be air conditioned? It's necessary for some, if not all, apparatus. I participated in a debate regarding air conditioning on a new industrial apparatus several years back. The number of calls the department responded to wasn't great, the general response distance was short, budgets were tight and although we recognized that air conditioning was a nice feature to add, just about every one of the almost 100 buildings in the facility were air conditioned and were a short walking distance from almost every possible incident. So, we determined we would exclude air conditioning from the vehicle specs to control the budget. But most departments don't have the luxury of being close to their entire response area, so they must consider some form of air-conditioned vehicle or base/staging area if incidents they respond to may cause firefighters to become heat-stressed.
A HEATED RESPONSE Once you've predetermined how your department will keep personnel at least somewhat cool during incidents, you must examine the actual response. For structural firefighters, general/initial tactics in hot weather may not differ that much from normal incidents, but sustaining a response in hot conditions requires one or more tactics to keep your personnel safe, including using cooling equipment, rotating personnel and/or rest/rehab of personnel.
Various forms of cooling equipment, such as ice vests, are on the market, but to use this equipment you must preplan to have it available and ready for firefighters to don prior to putting on their turnout gear. Generally, this sort of equipment adds weight to personnel and may create additional fatigue or hinder turnout gear and SCBAs. And while this type of equipment retains some value in hot climates, particularly when operating in chemical suits, it isn't widely accepted or used among firefighters.
One common tactic: personnel rotation. This is a good idea, no matter what the weather, when operating at structural fires and other high-risk incidents. Generally, firefighters must rotate out of the high-risk area after they've used up their second air bottle, if not sooner, depending on the personnel available and weather conditions. Many firefighters don't want to rotate out-but they may need to be forced to do so for their own good-so officers may need to find a less intense task for them to perform for a short while to ensure they rotate out. Once rested, they can rotate back into the action zone. But rotating personnel assumes a readily available source of manpower. If you anticipate needing to rotate, but are already running short on personnel, call for help.
Another common tactic: personnel rehab. Once firefighters rotate out of the action zone, they must take a breather and undergo rehab so they can jump back into the action zone when needed. Rehab can be a complicated process. Fortunately, the U.S. Fire Administration has done a good deal of work outlining the proper rehab procedure (see sidebar).
Proper fluid replenishment is crucial to the rehab process. Thirst (or lack thereof) may not be an indicator of the need to replenish body fluids. In very hot or fatiguing situations, firefighters may need to consume 6-10 oz. of electrolyte fluids every 15-20 minutes.1 Important: Set up a rehab sector with specialized personnel and resources to do the job right. Rehab is also closely tied to rest, both of which can re-energize responders and allow them to get back into the action.
A FINAL NOTE Some people look forward to summer and vacationing and relaxing with friends and family. Unfortunately, fires and other emergencies never take a vacation, so firefighters must be prepared to deal with incidents in all sorts of weather-proper preplanning and incident tactics allow us to do this safely.
But it's also important to remember that you can suffer exposure to hot weather conditions at any time, not just on incidents. So follow the guidelines outlined in this article during training and any other outdoor activities. Here's hoping your summer is a quiet one.
PHOTO GERT ZOUTENDIJK Consider providing comfortable seating for firefighters working in high heat areas.
Purpose: To ensure that the physical and mental condition of members operating at the scene of an emergency or a training exercise does not deteriorate to a point that affects the safety of each member or that jeopardizes the safety and integrity of the operation.
Scope: This procedure shall apply to all emergency operations and training exercises where strenuous physical activity or exposure to heat or cold exist.
Responsibilities
Incident Commander The Incident Commander shall consider the circumstances of each incident and make adequate provisions early in the incident for the rest and rehabilitation for all members operating at the scene.
Supervisors All supervisors shall maintain an awareness of the condition of each member operating within their span of control and ensure that adequate steps are taken to provide for each member's safety and health.
Personnel During periods of hot weather, members shall be encouraged to drink water and activity beverages throughout the work day. During any emergency incident or training evolution, all members shall advise their supervisor when they believe that their level of fatigue or exposure to heat or cold is approaching a level that could affect themselves, their crew or the operation in which they are involved.
Establishment of Rehabilitation Sector
Responsibility The Incident Commander will establish a Rehabilitation Sector or Group when conditions indicate that rest and rehabilitation is needed for personnel operating at an incident scene or training evolution.
Location The location for the Rehabilitation Area will normally be designated by the Incident Commander.
Site Characteristics
It should be in a location that will provide physical rest by allowing the body to recuperate from the demands and hazards of the emergency operation or training evolution.
It should be far enough away from the scene that members may safely remove their turnout gear and SCBA and be afforded mental rest from the stress and pressure of the emergency operation or training evolution.
It should provide suitable protection from the prevailing environmental conditions.
It should enable members to be free of exhaust fumes from apparatus, vehicles, or equipment (including those involved in the Rehabilitation Sector/Group operations).
It should be large enough to accommodate multiple crews, based on the size of the incident.
It should be easily accessible by EMS units.
It should allow prompt reentry back into the emergency operation upon complete recuperation.
Site Designation
A nearby garage, building lobby, or other structure.
Several floors below a fire in a high rise building.
A school bus, municipal bus, or bookmobile.
Fire apparatus, ambulance, or other emergency vehicles at the scene or called to the scene.
Retired fire apparatus or surplus government vehicle that has been renovated as a Rehabilitation Unit.
An open area in which a rehab area can be created using tarps, fans, etc.
Resources The Rehab Officer shall secure all necessary resources required to adequately staff and supply the Rehabilitation Area. The supplies should include the items listed below:
Fluids
Food
Medical
Other
PHOTO RYAN MCDONALD Recharging with appropriate fluids is an important tactic when firefighting in hot weather.
Guidelines
Rehabilitation Sector/Group Establishment Rehabilitation should be considered by staff officers during the initial planning stages of an emergency response. However, the climatic or environmental conditions of the emergency scene should not be the sole justification for establishing a Rehabilitation Area. Climatic or environmental conditions that indicate the need to establish a Rehabilitation Area are a heat stress index above 90 F or windchill index below 10 F.
Hydration A critical factor in the prevention of heat injury is the maintenance of water and electrolytes. Water must be replaced during exercise periods and at emergency incidents. During heat stress, the member should consume at least one quart of water per hour. The rehydration solution should be a 50/50 mixture of water and a commercially prepared activity beverage and administered at about 40 F.
Nourishment The department shall provide food at the scene of an extended incident when units are engaged for three or more hours.
Rest The "two air bottle rule," or 45 minutes of worktime, is recom-mended as an acceptable level prior to mandatory rehabilitation. Members shall rehydrate (at least eight ounces) while SCBA cylinders are being changed. Firefighters having worked for two full 30-minute rated bottles, or 45 minutes, shall be immediately placed in the Rehabilitation Area for rest and evaluation.
Recovery Members in the Rehabilitation Area should maintain a high level of hydration. Members should not be moved from a hot environment directly into an air conditioned area because the body's cooling system can shut down in response to the external cooling. An air conditioned environment is acceptable after a cool-down period at an ambient temperature with sufficient air movement.
Medical Evaluation
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) — EMS should be provided and staffed by the most highly trained and qualified EMS personnel on the scene (at a minimum of BLS level). They shall evaluate vital signs, examine members, and make proper disposition (return to duty, continued rehabilitation, or medical treatment and transport to medical facility).
Heart Rate and Temperature — The heart rate should be measured for 30 seconds as early as possible in the rest period. If a member's heart rate exceeds 110 beats per minute, an oral temperature should be taken. If the member's temperature exceeds 100.6 F, he/ she should not be permitted to wear protective equipment. If it is below 100.6 F and the heart rate remains above 110 beats per minute, rehabilitation time should be increased.
Documentation — All medical evaluations shall be recorded on standard forms along with the member's name and complaints and must be signed, dated and timed by the Rehab Officer or his/ her designee.
Accountability Members assigned to the Rehabilitation Sector/Group shall enter and exit the Rehabilitation Area as a crew. The crew designation, number of crew members, and the tunes of entry to and exit from the Rehabilitation Area shall be documented by the Rehab Officer or his/her designee on the Company Check-In/Out Sheet. Crews shall not leave the Rehabilitation Area until authorized to do so by the Rehab Officer.
REFERENCES
"Heat Stress," Mike Dalton, Compliance Magazine, April 2005, p. 9.
Greg Jakubowski is a fire protection engineer and certified safety professional with 27 years of fire service experience. He is a Pennsylvania State Fire Instructor and serves as a captain with the Lingohocken Fire Company in Bucks County, Pa.
FireRescue1 encourages its members to comment on this article in the comments section below. You must be a registered member of FireRescue1 to post a comment. The comments below are member-generated and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FireRescue1 or its staff.
