Firefighter Dies in TrainingFirefighter Dies in TrainingFirefighter Dies in TrainingFirefighter Dies in Training MarylandMaryland recruit firefighter recruit firefighter

Andrew Waybright Andrew Waybright collapsedcollapsed during a training exercise in during a training exercise in extreme heat. extreme heat. Click for detailsClick for details

Academy personnel dismissed Academy personnel dismissed seriousness figuring that the seriousness figuring that the recruit was just “played out”recruit was just “played out”

First aid was not provided to the First aid was not provided to the recruit until it was too late.recruit until it was too late.

He was pronounced deadHe was pronounced dead at at hospital - temperature was hospital - temperature was 107.4°F107.4°F

Lack of Planning and PreparationLack of Planning and PreparationContribute to TragedyContribute to Tragedy

Lack of Planning and PreparationLack of Planning and PreparationContribute to TragedyContribute to Tragedy

Training OfficerTraining Officer alleged to be “an alleged to be “an untrained leader, for failing to untrained leader, for failing to provide hydration, failure to provide provide hydration, failure to provide basic first aid, and failure to inform basic first aid, and failure to inform recruits of the exercise session”.recruits of the exercise session”.

Failed to meet dutyFailed to meet duty “to provide “to provide training exercises in a reasonable training exercises in a reasonable and safe manner such that they did and safe manner such that they did not endanger the health of the not endanger the health of the recruits”. recruits”.

Waybright’s parents suing for $1 Waybright’s parents suing for $1 million million

This tragic incident was completely This tragic incident was completely preventable.preventable.

In a training environment, everything In a training environment, everything can and should be controlled.can and should be controlled.

Emergency calls cannot be planned, Emergency calls cannot be planned, and often, the scene conditions are out and often, the scene conditions are out of control.of control.

We must prepare ourselves in advance We must prepare ourselves in advance for the planned, unplanned and the for the planned, unplanned and the uncontrolled emergency environment.uncontrolled emergency environment.

Heat related illness/injury is a serious Heat related illness/injury is a serious concern for firefighters in the Northwest.concern for firefighters in the Northwest.

Extreme physical demands, hot and Extreme physical demands, hot and sometimes superheated environments, sometimes superheated environments, heavy protective clothing, and heavy protective clothing, and unstructured rehabilitation all unstructured rehabilitation all contribute.contribute.

Hydration level, level of fitness, pre-Hydration level, level of fitness, pre-existing medical conditions, and existing medical conditions, and medications, all affect the ability to deal medications, all affect the ability to deal with heat stress.with heat stress.

HydrationHydration Sweating is an important cooling Sweating is an important cooling

mechanism of the human body.mechanism of the human body. The rate at which people sweat is The rate at which people sweat is

determined not only by genetics, but by determined not only by genetics, but by hydrationhydration, state of acclimation and , state of acclimation and aerobic fitness. You can’t sweat if your aerobic fitness. You can’t sweat if your body doesn’t have enough water. In body doesn’t have enough water. In order to maintain normal body function, order to maintain normal body function, fire fighters must pre-hydrate and fire fighters must pre-hydrate and replace fluid as soon as possible during replace fluid as soon as possible during or as soon as possible after exertion. or as soon as possible after exertion.

AcclimationAcclimation Acclimation is a physiological adaptation Acclimation is a physiological adaptation

that the human body makes with that the human body makes with repeated exposures to heat stress repeated exposures to heat stress during exercise. It increases our rate of during exercise. It increases our rate of sweat production and shortens the time sweat production and shortens the time it takes for the sweating response to it takes for the sweating response to start and conserves sodium. start and conserves sodium.

Physical fitness can help with Physical fitness can help with acclimation.acclimation.

FitnessFitness Regular and sustained aerobic exercise can help with Regular and sustained aerobic exercise can help with

acclimation. Fire fighters who maintain an adequate acclimation. Fire fighters who maintain an adequate level of fitness will have reduced cardiovascular level of fitness will have reduced cardiovascular strain and lower core temperature for the same level strain and lower core temperature for the same level of heat stress. of heat stress.

Fit fire fighters also tend to have reduced levels of Fit fire fighters also tend to have reduced levels of body fat – and aren’t carrying extra non-functional body fat – and aren’t carrying extra non-functional weight. Therefore, less energy is required by a fit weight. Therefore, less energy is required by a fit person to do the same job as a less-fit person.person to do the same job as a less-fit person.

Predisposing ConditionsPredisposing Conditions Sustained exertion in the heat by Sustained exertion in the heat by

unacclimatized workers.unacclimatized workers. Lack of physical fitness and/or obesity Lack of physical fitness and/or obesity Recent alcohol intake. Recent alcohol intake. Dehydration. Dehydration. Individual susceptibility. Individual susceptibility. Chronic cardiovascular disease. Chronic cardiovascular disease. Failure to replace water lost in sweat. Failure to replace water lost in sweat.

A. Heat Exhaustion A. Heat Exhaustion

vs. vs. B. Heat StrokeB. Heat Stroke

For more detail go to:For more detail go to:http://http://

www.emsonline.net/www.emsonline.net/

Log in and click on Log in and click on CBT 385 Environmental CBT 385 Environmental EmergenciesEmergencies

If signs or symptoms of heat illness are seen:If signs or symptoms of heat illness are seen: Notify supervisor immediatelyNotify supervisor immediately Move patient to a cool place.Move patient to a cool place. Remove protective clothing and loosen work Remove protective clothing and loosen work

clothing.clothing. Provide cool water Provide cool water Apply cool packs Apply cool packs Call Medic One if ALS indicators are present.Call Medic One if ALS indicators are present.

Provide oxygen or ventilatory assistance as Provide oxygen or ventilatory assistance as needed.needed.

To maximize your chances of avoiding heat illness:To maximize your chances of avoiding heat illness: Stay hydrated by drinking 8 ounces of water each Stay hydrated by drinking 8 ounces of water each

hour throughout the day.hour throughout the day. Stay physically fit by performing aerobic exercise Stay physically fit by performing aerobic exercise

for at least 30 min. per day, 4 days per week for at least 30 min. per day, 4 days per week minimum.minimum.

Avoid alcohol consumption the day before you Avoid alcohol consumption the day before you report to duty.report to duty.

Ensure optimal health by getting an annual Ensure optimal health by getting an annual medical examination.medical examination.

Make appropriate rehabilitation part of all training Make appropriate rehabilitation part of all training exercises and/or emergency scene operations.exercises and/or emergency scene operations.

KFD Policy #336: REHAB AT EMERGENCY INCIDENTS AND TRAINING EXERCISES It is the responsibility of all Kent Fire It is the responsibility of all Kent Fire

Department personnel to incorporate this Department personnel to incorporate this policy into their daily activities as needed.policy into their daily activities as needed.

Click on the link to access the policy manual, Click on the link to access the policy manual, and review policy #336 in its’ entirety .and review policy #336 in its’ entirety .

#336 Rehab at Emergency Incidents and Training #336 Rehab at Emergency Incidents and Training ExercisesExercises