WASHINGTON, D.C. - Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response and director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced today the U.S. Administration (USFA) is working with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to study critical topics related to emergency responder health and safety during incidents and to revise the USFA manual Emergency Incident Rehabilitation (FA-114). The revision will update critical health and safety issues already discussed in the manual, as well as cover new issues related to emergency incident rehabilitation that have emerged since the original manual was published in 1992.
“Emergency incident rehabilitation is an essential element on the incident scene to prevent serious and life-threatening conditions such as heat stroke and heart attacks from occurring.” said Brown. “I join with President Bush and Secretary Chertoff in supporting efforts such as this that go directly to the protection of our nation’s first responders.”
Emergency responder rehabilitation is designed to ensure that the physical and mental well being of members operating at the scene of an emergency don’t deteriorate to the point where it affects the safety of any member. Fireground rehab is the term used for the care given to the emergency workers while performing their duties at an emergency scene. It includes monitoring of vital signs, rehydration and nourishment of workers and a place for workers to rest between assignments.
“I am very pleased to work with the IAFF in this effort to enhance emergency responder health and safety to reduce the number of line-of-duty-deaths among emergency workers,” said R. David Paulison, U.S. Fire Administrator. “This effort will also support the National Fallen Firefighters’ Foundation (NFFF) Firefighter Life Safety Initiative to mitigate on-duty firefighter fatalities.”
The study will examine critical topics related to emergency incident rehabilitation including operational issues, human physiology, weather issues, and technology. It will address ways to better protect firefighters and other emergency responders through the use of proper protective clothing and improved tactical procedures.
“Firefighters who are not provided adequate rest and rehydration during emergency operations or training exercises are at increased risk for illness or injury,” said Harold Schaitberger, IAFF General President. “We must do everything possible to provide firefighters with the information that they need to be safe and healthy.”
A copy of the original USFA Emergency Incident Rehabilitation manual may be viewed and downloaded from the following page of the USFA Web site: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/FA-114.pdf
Additional information on the NFFF’s Firefighter Life Safety Initiative may be found on this page of the NFFF Web site: http://www.firehero.org/index1.aspx?BD=26649
Further information about this partnership effort, as well as other USFA research studies in firefighter safety and health, may be found on the USFA Web site at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/research/safety/