By Amy Napier Viteri
WSBTV
ATLANTA, Ga. — Three fire recruits were rushed to Atlanta Medical Center with heat-related illnesses following a training exercise, officials said.
Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran told Channel 2’s Amy Napier Viteri two of the three recruits were hospitalized after the first day of training on their self-contained breathing apparatus. During the drills, in which recruits suited up in full turnout gear, the three became dehydrated.
“It is alarming to us. We hear about this happening to football players this time of year with football practice, but never with firefighters,” Cochran said. “Two of them were what we called heat exhaustion and one of them entered into the more severe stage of heat stroke.”
Full story: Training exercise sends Atlanta fire recruits to hospital