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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
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Permalink Reply by TOMMY on
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TRY SOME COMBINED HEAT PLUS HUMIDITY THAT EXCEEDS THE 165 AND GOES INTO THE 188 RANGE IF YOU WANT TO TALK CANT COOL OFF. JUST ADD THE SHADED TEMPERATURE MEASURED FIVE FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.... ADD TO IT THE OFFICIAL HUMIDITY LEVEL AND YOU HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS REHABING YOUR PEOPLE STARTING AT 165 AND MOVING INTO THE 188 TO 190 RANGE.
THE ABOVE IS WHAT WE EXPERIENCED 34 OUT OF THE LAST 51 DAYS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. AS THEY SAY IT NOT THE HEAT .. ITS THE HUMIDITY. YOU YANKEE GUYS SOMETIMES NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT US SOUTHERN BOYS CAN ONLY GRIN WHEN WE HAER OF YOUR NUMBERS OCASSIONALLLY REACH THE 145-170 RANGE. THE ONLY WAY TO COOL IN THAT CRAP IS PUT THEM IN A/C CABS ON APPARATUS OR SEND THEM TO COOLING FACILITIES NEARBY. OVER 29 OF OUR 46 COUNTIES HAD THREE OR MORE DAYS WITH THE ABOVE REFERENCED TEMPS IN EXCESS OF 193 FOR OVER THREE HOURS ON 18 OF THOSE DAYS.. DANGEROUS!!!
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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I've actually been in one (mind you it was homemade), but it was still a chair to sit in and soak your arms. It does actually cool you down nicely. And while I was in there, they took vitals every few minutes and we couldn't leave to go back in until we were cleared by medics.
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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8 ounces per hour is the recommendation I have always tried to abide by. We have water and gatorade on our hazards. I also hydrate on my way to the call and back. Always helps to have a stash cooling for the taking if needed.
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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John? The problem with that is we want to lose water, we need to. If your body is hot and you're not sweating, not urinating regularly, then you are in trouble.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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We carry lots of water on every vehicle and individual packets of gatorade to add...various flavors...By the way not an endorsement but you can get 96 servings (variety pack) for $34.00 through Powder Direct....seems to fit the need and keeps most of the people happy....that's not an easy thing to do....LOL
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Tony it's not that we "Want" to loose water its that we sweat and then the sweat evaporates and in doing so cools the surface of the body and thus the sore also cools...remember Physiology...the largest organ of the body.....The skin....and one of its primary funstions....regulate body temperature....
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Of course you're correct Paul. Was I making the old error of 'assuming' something? Assuming that people understand the need, the purpose, of sweating.
No matter, I'll still continue using verbal short cuts - it's part of my culture ;o)
"would help you keep from losing as much fluids and helps to keep from cramping up" scared me a bit. That's what made me write "If your body is hot and you're not sweating, not urinating regularly, then you are in trouble". Yes, we pay a lot of attention to those things.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew on
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-Keep hydrated with plenty of water.
-Undo/remove bunker gear whenever possible.
-Keep EMS close by, just in case.
-Plenty of beer... Wait, what?
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Andrew...Probies should NOT be making comments like this...especially those that haven't got training in......8) Paul
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Powers on
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We carry a mixed case of water and sports drinks on every apparatus. The officers try to make sure the boys drink at least 1 sports drink for every bottle of water. When you take off your mask, you drink a bottle before you put it back on. We make sure to rotate in the canteen, and spread the work as available. I do like the thought of pre-hydration, this is something I have never thought about and will bring up with the boys.
Paul, thanks for starting this thread, it has been helpful in pointing out something that I thought we had "all figured out."
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Matt, thanks for the kind words....(OK where is the slam ?) I hadn't thought of pre-loading either...it is something just started not too long ago....seems to help a lot....
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