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Fire Fighter Rehabilitation

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Objectives (1 of 3)

• Define emergency incident rehabilitation.

• Describe why fire fighters need emergency incident rehabilitation.

• List and describe the types of extended fire incidents where fire fighters need emergency incident rehabilitation.

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Objectives (2 of 3)

• Describe the seven functions of a rehabilitation center.

• List four parts of revitalization.

• Describe the types of fluids that are well suited for fire fighters to drink during emergency incident rehabilitation.

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Objectives (3 of 3)

• Describe four other types of incidents where fire fighters would benefit from emergency incident rehabilitation.

• Describe the types of food that are well suited for fire fighters to eat during emergency incident rehabilitation.

• Describe the personal responsibilities related to emergency incident rehabilitation.

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Introduction (1 of 2)

• You must take care of yourself so you can continue helping others.

• Rehabilitate: to restore to a condition of health or to a state of useful and constructive activity.

• Even seasoned fire fighters can quickly become fatigued.

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Introduction (2 of 2)

• Without rest and recovery, you may experience:– Fatigue– Headaches– Gastrointestinal problems– Depression– Flashbacks– Amnesia

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Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (1 of 5)

• Physiological job stressors:– From sleep to full activity in seconds– Not enough time to eat or drink– Physical demands– Emotional stress

• Environmental job stressors:– Adverse weather conditions– Unfamiliar locations– Smoke-filled environments

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Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (2 of 5)

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)– Can weigh up to 40

lbs. – Contributes to heat

stress– Increases energy

needed to move– Traps body heat

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Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (3 of 5)

• Dehydration– State in which fluid

losses are greater than fluid intake

– Can lead to shock and even death if untreated

– Body can lose up to 2 quarts of fluid in less than 1 hour

– Fluid loss reduces strength, endurance, and mental judgment

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Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (4 of 5)

• Energy Consumption– During strenuous activity, the body burns

carbohydrates and fats for energy– Essential to refuel energy sources with

nutritious food

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Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (5 of 5)

• A well-rested, well-conditioned person has more endurance and can tolerate the stresses of firefighting.

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Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter Rehabilitation (1 of 3)

• Rehabilitation required at all incidents– Small incidents may require only water for

rehydration.– Major incidents may require a full

rehabilitation center.

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Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter Rehabilitation (2 of 3)

• Structure fires– Intense heat and stressful conditions cause

rapid dehydration and fatigue.

• High-rise fires– Energy resources are drained quickly.

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Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter Rehabilitation (3 of 3)

• Wildland fires– Crews need to work

in shifts so their bodies can recover.

– Large fires may require hundreds of fire fighters and take weeks to extinguish.

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Other Types of IncidentsRequiring Rehabilitation (1 of 3)

• Hazardous materials incidents

• Long-duration search-and-rescue activities

• Large-scale training activities

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Other Types of IncidentsRequiring Rehabilitation (2 of 3)

• Non-emergency events– Athletic events– Stand-by

assignments

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Other Types of IncidentsRequiring Rehabilitation (3 of 3)

• Nourishment and fluid replacement are essential whenever fire fighters must be ready for action.

• Weather conditions– Heat causes rapid dehydration and fatigue.– High humidity reduces evaporative cooling.– Cold weather can cause hypothermia.

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How Does Rehabilitation Work?

Seven Functions:• Physical Assessment• Revitalization• Medical Evaluation and Treatment• Regular Monitoring of Vital Signs• Transportation • Critical Incident Stress Management• Reassignment

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Physical Assessment

• Fire fighter’s vital signs should be taken.

• Signs and symptoms of fatigue indicate need for rehabilitation.

• Crew should be questioned and observed for signs of emotional stress.

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Revitalization (1 of 7)

• Four components of revitalization– Rest– Fluid replacement– Nutrition– Temperature

stabilization

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Revitalization (2 of 7)

• Rest– Opportunity to disengage from stressful

activities and remove PPE

• Fluid replacement– Rehydrate with water. – Restore electrolytes with diluted sports

drinks.– Avoid caffeinated and sugar-rich drinks.

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Revitalization (3 of 7)

• Nutrition– Glucose needed to burn fat and release

energy– Need to balance glucose levels for the

body to work properly• Too low = weakness, shaking• Too high = sluggishness

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Revitalization (4 of 7)

• Nutrition (continued)– Carbohydrates

• Major source of fuel• Readily used by the

body during high-intensity activities

– Proteins• Used by the body to

grow and repair tissues

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Revitalization (5 of 7)

• Nutrition (continued)– Fats

• Used for energy, insulating and protecting organs, and breaking down vitamins

– Simple sugars stimulate insulin production• Sugar consumption can lead to lower energy

levels.

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Revitalization (6 of 7)

• Nutrition (continued)– During short incidents

• Consume low-sugar, high-protein sports bars.

– During extended incidents• Eat smaller, balanced meals that include

complex carbohydrates.

– Proper nutrition is part of a healthy lifestyle.

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Revitalization (7 of 7)

• Temperature stabilization– Remove turnout gear as soon as possible.– Remove damp clothing and replace with

blankets.– Consider using cold compresses.– Move to climate-controlled environment.– In cold conditions, use a heated

rehabilitation center.

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Medical Evaluation and Treatment, Monitoring of Vital Signs

• Medical evaluation and treatment– Abnormal vital signs, pain, and injury

necessitate further medical treatment.

• Monitoring of vital signs– Monitor at regular intervals.– Vital signs should return to normal before

fire fighter is reassigned.

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Transportation to a Hospital

• Ambulance available at rehabilitation centers to: – Transport ill fire

fighters– Transport injured fire

fighters

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Critical Incident Stress Management

• CISM– Confronts critical incidents, defuses them,

and directs the fire fighter toward physical and emotional balance

– Team members may meet with companies or individual fire fighters.

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Reassignment

• Fire fighters released to reassignment following:– Rest– Rehydration– Refueling– Rechecking that they are fit for duty

• May return to the same or different tasks

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Personal Responsibility in Rehabilitation

“Safety Begins and Ends with You”• Take care of yourself first, your team second,

others third.• Know your own limits.• Be responsible: participate in emergency

incident rehabilitation.

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Summary (1 of 5)

• Rehabilitation is a special designated area where emergency personnel can rest.

• Rehabilitation helps prevent injuries and illness.

• Rehabilitation centers are often required at wildland fires and structure fires that are large or continue for long periods of time.

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Summary (2 of 5)

• Other incidents requiring rehabilitation include:– Hazardous materials incidents– Long-duration search and rescue activities– Training activities and athletic events may

require rehabilitation centers.

• Adverse weather conditions increase the need for rehabilitation.

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Summary (3 of 5)

• Seven parts of revitalization:– Physical assessment– Revitalization– Medical evaluation and treatment– Monitoring of vital signs– Transportation to a hospital– Critical incident stress management– Reassignment

• Revitalization is of most concern to new fire fighters.

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Summary (4 of 5)

• Replace fluids before signs of dehydration become obvious.

• Meet nutritional needs during minor incidents with low-sugar, high-protein sports bars.

• During longer incidents, eat small frequent meals that contain the appropriate nutritional balance.

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Summary (5 of 5)

• Know your limits, listen to your body, and use rehabilitation facilities.

• Safety begins and ends with you.

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