The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Preparing For The Heat
Hello...Yes, it is me...Old loud mouth again....LOL....As I am sure we have all been a bit on the warm side lately....I would like to know how you prepare for the heat and operating on calls...We have recently gone to planning ahead...Every Firefighter keeps 1 liter bottle of water in one of their boots...upon responding to a call we are to preload (drink 1 liter of water) enroute to the call...also water is strongly encouraged frequently to replace fluids....along with gatorade or another electrolyte beverage...cool is best (helps prevent throwing up)...try to limit the sports drinks to 1 liter or less as it too will make you vomit. Rehab often...primary concern is pulse rate less than 100, check O-2 saturation... should be greater than 92%...if you have the means check the CO levels...should be less than 5%... greater than that provide O-2 to blow it off....and above all (doesn't need to be said) KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PEOPLE....if they stop sweating or become disoriented they are in trouble.....Remove them from the heat source, cool them down, remove ALL their gear and get medical help...Don't use those misting devices...they will actually increase the body core temp....Hope this makes us all think about the hidden dangers that are out there...Be safe, Be smart, and lets all go home in the same shape we left in.....Always Keep the Faith...............Paul
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Brian Mackie on
-
Very good Paul!
Great info.
I could add, there is one more sure fire way to ensure that you never get overheated.. move to Manitoba Canada! Home of the polar bears! lol
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
-
Well Brian...Preety mild here in Northern New York as well...but this past week has been brutal...temps anywhere from 95-105
-
Permalink Reply by m camm on
-
drinking cold water is not as good for u as drinking water at your body temp. its much more easily digested and your body can utilize it much faster and more efficient. if the water is too cold or too hot your body has to make it hotter or colder to match your body temp - this using up more energy then required.
-
-
M...it will also make you vomit....as I said "cool" water.....cold will put your stomach muscles into spasm...stomach doesn't like that and payback is vomit....I don't think anything is worse than puking into your airpack mask....oops, wait a minute...yes there is....puking into someone elses mask.....
-
Permalink Reply by Tony P on
-
Cool/cold drink is always more refreshing, but doesn't work as well in your body. I'll always have an ambient temp drink firest, followed up with a cold one if possibe - not often we can get cold drinks out at a bushfire unfortunately! But apart from that, I agree Paul. Well, not too sure about the "remove ALL their gear " though! We have Ff's of both gender on the fireground after all! Oh wait, are you just talking about their PPE?
Talking about PPE brings up another favourite of mine. Hot weather? Wildfire? Don't wear structural PPE - it is bad, it will put your body under too much stress.
Suspect heat related illness in a person? Regard it as worse than it seems, better safe than sorry. Any doubt at all, call for medical aid.
-
-
We only get Brush fires in the spring and late fall...rest of the time it is too green to catch easily.....we wear PPE (structure fires) Don't get to play in the woods too often unless someone gets lost or is missing......and don't get much of an option on weather and gear...if its a structure fire it is ALL PPE regardless of temperature...and yes it is hotter than Aunt Nellies oven on Thanksgiving....you can easily sweat out 1 liter of fluid an hour.......
-
-
Ah, the difference in fire seasons and of course the weather. In my part of Australia, the fire season starts in November (spring) and runs to April (autumn). The season gets hotter and hotter and drier and drier... Grass is green in winter and yellow in summer :) In summer we say to keep drinking all day, don't wait for the pager to go off. Keeps you heading to the toilet, but at least the body has a good start!
Summer - the bad time for structure fires. Structural PPE and hot ambient temperature makes it nasty. More drinking water and more rest periods = healthier firefighters.
1 litre an hour? Sounds like me, I sweat the stuff out very well! And that's a good sign of course, no sweat? Big problem!
-
Permalink Reply by Mac Conant on
-
Question about the Misting Device. At my FireFighter 1&2 practical they had one set up. (It was 95, and humid, not a cloud in the sky, what a brutal day to be in full gear doing SnR. Anyway..I used it. I drank the most water in one day I think I have in my whole life! And I lived near that mister. I was done by the end of the day. I was dizzy in the car on the way home (not driving) And just couldnt think straight. I tried to take my own pulse but couldnt count past 3. Haha. So..that mister is bad news? This was state level exam so..I didnt think of it being a bad thing at the time.
-
-
I wouldn't say 'misting device' as such, I'd say 'heat related illness' - you were in need of help. Working hard in PPE in that sort of temperature will always be hard, being humid as well could make it worse as your body can't sweat properly. With all that "most water in one day" comment, were you urinating much? You should have been - failing there is another sign of heat stress. Did the 'mister' make things worse? No idea, never seen one.
Having said all that, am I an expert in the field? No, by no means. But it's a topic we push all year!
-
-
Mac I always thought the same thing, but I was just told that it actually causes the body to stress more and makes it work to equalize the temp.....Fooled me...the Author was Mike McEvoy...Medical Advisor who wrote (co-authored) Firefighter Rehabilition Guide to Best Practices (IAFC)...Last time we used it I felt sick for 2 days.....
-
-
Urine turns dark when it is concentrated which would indicate dehydration....on a Firescene we are always dehydrated...but in weather like this it is very easy to get to the point that we are in trouble even before we realize it...If you get dehydrated enough then you will not make urine....then what do you do about the "urine test"...? I know...the Right way the wrong way and the Army way (I have 12 years of it behind me) Just something to throw out there....Stay safe.....Paul
-
-
I was with 5th group until I managed to fall off a rock cliff....15 foot fall 25 feet of rope....now partial knee replacement, 25 % disabled (bullshit) I was SF medic and small arms specialist...How I got into playing with Fire I have no clue....LOL
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
