Fire Fighter Rehabilitation

1
Fire Fighter Rehabilitation
2
Objectives (1 of 3)
19

• 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.

3
Objectives (2 of 3)
19

• 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.

4
Objectives (3 of 3)
19

• 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.

5
Introduction (1 of 2)
19

• 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.

6
Introduction (2 of 2)
19

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

7
Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (1
of 5)
19

• 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

8
Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (2
of 5)
19

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Can weigh up to 40 lbs.
• Contributes to heat stress
• Increases energy needed to move
• Traps body heat

9
Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (3
of 5)
19

• 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

10
Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (4
of 5)
19

• Energy Consumption
• During strenuous activity, the body burns
  carbohydrates and fats for energy
• Essential to refuel energy sources with
  nutritious food

11
Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitation (5
of 5)
19

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

12
Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter
Rehabilitation (1 of 3)
19

• Rehabilitation required at all incidents
• Small incidents may require only water for
  rehydration.
• Major incidents may require a full rehabilitation
  center.

13
Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter
Rehabilitation (2 of 3)
19

• Structure fires
• Intense heat and stressful conditions cause rapid
  dehydration and fatigue.
• High-rise fires
• Energy resources are drained quickly.

14
Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter
Rehabilitation (3 of 3)
19

• 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.

15
Other Types of IncidentsRequiring Rehabilitation
(1 of 3)
19

• Hazardous materials incidents
• Long-duration search-and-rescue activities
• Large-scale training activities

16
Other Types of IncidentsRequiring Rehabilitation
(2 of 3)
19

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

17
Other Types of IncidentsRequiring Rehabilitation
(3 of 3)
19

• 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.

18
How Does Rehabilitation Work?
19

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

19
Physical Assessment
19

• Fire fighters 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.

20
Revitalization (1 of 7)
19

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

21
Revitalization (2 of 7)
19

• 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.

22
Revitalization (3 of 7)
19

• 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

23
Revitalization (4 of 7)
19

• 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

24
Revitalization (5 of 7)
19

• 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.

25
Revitalization (6 of 7)
19

• 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.

26
Revitalization (7 of 7)
19

• 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.

27
Medical Evaluation and Treatment, Monitoring of
Vital Signs
19

• 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.

28
Transportation to a Hospital
19

• Ambulance available at rehabilitation centers to
  
• Transport ill fire fighters
• Transport injured fire fighters

29
Critical Incident Stress Management
19

• 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.

30
Reassignment
19

• Fire fighters released to reassignment following
• Rest
• Rehydration
• Refueling
• Rechecking that they are fit for duty
• May return to the same or different tasks

31
Personal Responsibility in Rehabilitation
19

• 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.

32
Summary (1 of 5)
19

• 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.

33
Summary (2 of 5)
19

• 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.

34
Summary (3 of 5)
19

• 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.

35
Summary (4 of 5)
19

• 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.

36
Summary (5 of 5)
19

• Know your limits, listen to your body, and use
  rehabilitation facilities.
• Safety begins and ends with you.