Health and Safety Guidelines for Firefighter TrainingHealth and Safety Guidelines for Firefighter Training

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Introduction/Scope of Problem Project Goals Research Design and Execution Health and Safety Guidelines

FIREFIGHTER FATALITIESFIREFIGHTER FATALITIES

year number

2005 99

2004 108

2003 111

2002 100

2001 106

2000 105

1999 113

1998 93

(Plus 343 on 9/11)

TRAINING FATALITIESTRAINING FATALITIES

year number

2005 14

2004 13

2003 12

2002 11

2001 14

2000 13

1999 3

1998 12

FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES Type of Duty-2005FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES Type of Duty-2005

SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH1995-2004SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH1995-2004

Physical FitnessEquipment/Apparatus DrillLive FireUnderwater/DiveSCBAClass/SeminarDriver TrainingEnroute/Returning

Physical FitnessEquipment/Apparatus DrillLive FireUnderwater/DiveSCBAClass/SeminarDriver TrainingEnroute/Returning

Source: USFA 2002

3125.9

17.28.6

6.95.2

3.4

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

1.7

LEADING TYPES of TRAINING ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED with FATALITIES (1990-2000)

LEADING TYPES of TRAINING ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED with FATALITIES (1990-2000)

TRAINING INJURIES-2003TRAINING INJURIES-2003

Category Burns Smoke Other Burns & Smoke Wound, Cut SubtotalInhalation Respiratory Inhalation Bleeding, Bruise

N 330 25 85 35 1185 1660

% 4.7 0.4 1.2 0.5 16.7 23.0

Category Dislocation, Heart Attack Strain, Thermal Stress OtherTotalFracture or Stroke Sprain

N 340 70 4130 325 575 7,100

% 4.8 1.0 58.2 4.6 8.1 100

NFPA 2004

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF FIREFIGHTINGPHYSICAL DEMANDS OF FIREFIGHTING

Cardiac Failure Thermal Stress Inhalation of Contaminants Disorientation and Panic

Cardiac Failure Thermal Stress Inhalation of Contaminants Disorientation and Panic

CARDIAC FAILURECARDIAC FAILURE

Most likely cause of firefighter fatalities is cardiac arrest

Severe exertion stresses the heart and requires it to deliver more blood to working muscles

PROJECT GOALSPROJECT GOALS

Provide a tool to assist the fire service on a national level with reducing the number and seriousness of training-related injuries and deaths

Develop standardized guidelines for health management of firefighters during training activities

CENTER for FIREFIGHTER SAFETY RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

CENTER for FIREFIGHTER SAFETY RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Fire Protection Engineering Department

Small Smart Systems Center VivoMetrics Government Services Project funded by Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program by DHS

THE LIFESHIRT SYSTEMTHE LIFESHIRT SYSTEM

Ambulatory Monitoring Objective Physiologic Data Peripheral Diagnostic Devices

THE LIFESHIRT SYSTEMTHE LIFESHIRT SYSTEM

VivoMetrics LifeShirt DATAVivoMetrics LifeShirt DATA

Pulmonary FunctionRespiratory rateTidal VolumeMinute Ventilation

Electrocardiogram (ECG) Accelerometer Blood Oxygen Saturation Skin Surface Temperature Core Body Temperature

RESEARCH PROTOCOLRESEARCH PROTOCOL

Harvard Step Test Training Evolutions

MazeFirst Floor BurnThird Floor BurnRITObtained data from actual firefighting activity

HARVARD STEP TESTHARVARD STEP TEST Validated test to estimate aerobic capacity based on fitness index

Subjects step to a 30-step cadence on and off a 20 cm box for five minutes

MAZE EVOLUTIONMAZE EVOLUTION Three story obstacle course Participants in full PPE and SCBA Traverse at own pace

First Floor Third Floor RIT Team

BURN EVOLUTIONSBURN EVOLUTIONS

INSTRUMENTATIONINSTRUMENTATION

Temperature Sensors

Average ceiling temperature of 725 F

Range of temperature from 714 F to 1,285 F

Temperature above 930 F not recommended

o

o o

o

THE PARTICIPANTSTHE PARTICIPANTS Over 200 firefighters

AGE AND MORPHOMETRYAGE AND MORPHOMETRY

GENERAL FINDINGSGENERAL FINDINGS

Maze and Burn Evolutions Fitness Level Hydration Status

FITNESS LEVEL vs PERFORMANCEFITNESS LEVEL vs PERFORMANCE

Lower heart rates and levels of minute ventilation, breathing frequency and inspired and expired air flow were observed in the most fit individuals compared to all other fitness groups.

HYDRATION vs PERFORMACEHYDRATION vs PERFORMACE

The most hydrated participants had a significantly lower relative heart rate response compared to all other hydration groups.

BURN ROOM TEMPERATURESBURN ROOM TEMPERATURES

TURNOUT GEAR PERFORMANCETURNOUT GEAR PERFORMANCE

DECISION TREEDECISION TREE Based on multiple regression analysis and

derivitive equations Serve to predict the range of values

expected based on age and fitness level

Instructors are expected to comply with the standards in NFPA 1041, Fire ServiceInstructor Professional Qualifications (2002)

INSTRUCTORSINSTRUCTORS

Facilities used for live fire training are expected to comply with NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions(2002)

TRAINING FACILITIESTRAINING FACILITIES

Before the beginning of any training evolution, and especially for live fire trainingevolutions, a safety plan must be developed.

SAFETY PLANSAFETY PLAN

Full personal protective equipment will be available and required for all studentsparticipating in practical training evolutions.

PPEPPE

During any live fire training evolutions qualified, experienced safety officer will be appointed and must remain through the duration of the evolutions.

SAFETY OFFICERSAFETY OFFICER

Training facilities and instructors should monitor weather conditions and adjust or cancel related activities as conditions warrant.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONSENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Medical evaluations in accordance with NFPA 1582, Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments (2003) should be conducted as a baseline for surveillance and annually thereafter on all individuals engaged in firefighter emergency functions.

MEDICAL EVALUATIONMEDICAL EVALUATION

NFPA Study of United States Fire Service (2001)NFPA Study of United States Fire Service (2001)

73 percent of firefighters worked in fire departments that did not have a program to maintain basic firefighter fitness and health as required in NFPA 1500

In rural communities, (population under 2,500), 88 percent of firefighters did not have a firefighter fitness and health program

U.S. Firefighter Fatalities Due to Sudden Cardiac Death, 1995-2004 (NFPA 2005)

U.S. Firefighter Fatalities Due to Sudden Cardiac Death, 1995-2004 (NFPA 2005) During the study there were 1,006 on-duty

firefighter fatalities of which 440 (43.7%) fell into the category of “sudden cardiac death.”

Autopsies or post mortem information was reported for 308 of the 440 victims of sudden cardiac death

Of the 308 firefighters, 134 (43.5%) had prior known heart-related conditions. These included previous heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty/stent placement

An additional 97 firefighters had atherosclerotic heart disease defined as arterial occlusion of at least 50 percent

The seven question PAR-Q should be used by fire training academies as a means toscreen students prior to participation in firefighter emergency training evolutions.

MEDICAL SCREENINGMEDICAL SCREENING

PAR-Q & YOUPAR-Q & YOU

Fitness evaluations in accordance with NFPA 1582, Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments (2003) should be conducted as a baseline for surveillance and annually thereafter on all individuals engaged in firefighter emergency functions.

FITNESS EVALUATIONFITNESS EVALUATION

Fire training academies should conduct a two-fold fitness screening on all individuals prior to participation in firefighter emergency training.

FITNESS SCREENINGFITNESS SCREENING

BODY MASS INDEXBODY MASS INDEX

BMI = Weight (lb)/[height (in)]2

* 703

BMI Weight Status

Below 18.5 Underweight18.5 – 24.9 Normal25.0 – 29.9 Overweight30.0 and Above Obese

FITNESS INDEXFITNESS INDEX

Harvard Step Test

FI = (100 * test duration in seconds)/(2 * THB in recovery)

Fitness Level Fitness Index

Excellent >90Good   80-89High Average      65-79Low Average       55-64Poor  < 55

The training academy should provide instructions to participants to and during firefighter emergency training to encourage proper hydration

HYDRATIONHYDRATION

Training academies should adhere to NFPA 1584, Recommended Practice on the Rehabilitation of Members Operating at Incident Scene Operations and Training Exercises.

MEDICAL MONITORINGMEDICAL MONITORING

In all cases, only fuels with known burning characteristics that are controllable are to be used and only in quantities needed to create the desired fire size.

FUEL LOAD AND EXPOSUREFUEL LOAD AND EXPOSURE

Call to ActionCall to Action

Our duty now is to learn from the effort, but most importantly to implement the recommended firefighter training guidelines in each and every fire department throughout the United States.

Thank you for your participation!