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Houston Fire Department Criticized Over Recruit’s Death
JAMES PINKERTON
Houston Chronicle
Reprinted with Permission
A 26-year-old Houston firefighter trainee who collapsed and later died of heat stroke after a 4.4-mile run in April 2009 probably would have survived if department trainers had provided water during the run or an ice water immersion facility to lower his body temperature, a federal safety investigation concluded.
Read The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report
Cohnway M. Johnson, a former member of the Oak Hill Fire Department near Austin, died May 4, 2009, when he was taken off life support at a Houston hospital. He had collapsed at the end of a morning run with 35 other trainees who had applied to join the Houston Fire Department.
Jeff Caynon, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, on Monday said that before Johnson's death the union specifically recommended HFD trainers provide water during runs and have an ice bath available because of previous heat-related injuries to cadets.
"Very clearly, before this happened, more could have been done to ensure that the cadets were hydrated," Caynon said. "You know the Army, the Marine Corps, they train in heat and in environments very similar to this and are able to keep soldiers hydrated. So, clearly, it can be done."
18-Month Probe
Johnson's death was one of four HFD-related fatalities last year, including two firefighters who rushed into an empty residence without following safety procedures and were trapped by a wind-driven blaze. A fourth death occurred when an HFD ladder truck ran a red light and collided with a speeding fire engine.
An 18-month investigation into Johnson's death by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health cited a number of shortcomings with HFD's training program. An autopsy report determined Johnson died of "complications of hyperthermia and dehydration,“ and NIOSH investigators concluded he died of exertional heatstroke caused by the department's training procedures.
Assistant Chief Kevin Alexander, who oversees HFD's training academy, said he did not know of any recommendations made by the union but said the department's medical procedures do not call for ice immersion.
"I would have to research the information they provided. I know NIOSH does a good job of providing us information … and there is always information to look at and room for improvement," Alexander said. "Hydration is available to our cadets during their workouts. Again, safety is the utmost for all our cadets.'"
The NIOSH investigation also found HFD:
Sent Johnson on a 4.4-mile run on his sixth day of training, at variance with national training standards that recommend a gradual buildup in conditioning runs;
Is lacking a wellness program and does not require annual medical or physical fitness examinations.
Johnson did not have any underlying medical conditions that contributed to his death, the NIOSH report states. He was described as muscular, 5 feet 10 inches and 210 pounds, and had been training on his own before entering the academy.
The temperature at the time of the 6:15 a.m. run was 73 degrees, but NIOSH investigators calculated the morning workout caused Johnson to lose a significant amount of fluids during the hour and 10-minute jog in formation.
"Given the trainee's weight, running speed and air temperature, it is estimated he lost almost a liter of sweat without an opportunity to replenish the loss during the run,“ the report states. It recommends HFD place water stations along the route or provide water bottles.
HFD officials at the training academy and arriving paramedics immediately treated Johnson, placing ice packs on his body and administering oxygen and giving him fluids intravenously. After arrival at the hospital 45 minutes after his collapse, Johnson's internal temperature was measured at 105.3 degrees and was estimated to have been much higher.
Related
Lawyer Claims FDNY Probie Was "Trained to Death"
Houston Chronicle
Reprinted with Permission
A 26-year-old Houston firefighter trainee who collapsed and later died of heat stroke after a 4.4-mile run in April 2009 probably would have survived if department trainers had provided water during the run or an ice water immersion facility to lower his body temperature, a federal safety investigation concluded.
Read The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report
Cohnway M. Johnson, a former member of the Oak Hill Fire Department near Austin, died May 4, 2009, when he was taken off life support at a Houston hospital. He had collapsed at the end of a morning run with 35 other trainees who had applied to join the Houston Fire Department.
Jeff Caynon, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, on Monday said that before Johnson's death the union specifically recommended HFD trainers provide water during runs and have an ice bath available because of previous heat-related injuries to cadets.
"Very clearly, before this happened, more could have been done to ensure that the cadets were hydrated," Caynon said. "You know the Army, the Marine Corps, they train in heat and in environments very similar to this and are able to keep soldiers hydrated. So, clearly, it can be done."
18-Month Probe
Johnson's death was one of four HFD-related fatalities last year, including two firefighters who rushed into an empty residence without following safety procedures and were trapped by a wind-driven blaze. A fourth death occurred when an HFD ladder truck ran a red light and collided with a speeding fire engine.
An 18-month investigation into Johnson's death by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health cited a number of shortcomings with HFD's training program. An autopsy report determined Johnson died of "complications of hyperthermia and dehydration,“ and NIOSH investigators concluded he died of exertional heatstroke caused by the department's training procedures.
Assistant Chief Kevin Alexander, who oversees HFD's training academy, said he did not know of any recommendations made by the union but said the department's medical procedures do not call for ice immersion.
"I would have to research the information they provided. I know NIOSH does a good job of providing us information … and there is always information to look at and room for improvement," Alexander said. "Hydration is available to our cadets during their workouts. Again, safety is the utmost for all our cadets.'"
The NIOSH investigation also found HFD:
Sent Johnson on a 4.4-mile run on his sixth day of training, at variance with national training standards that recommend a gradual buildup in conditioning runs;
Is lacking a wellness program and does not require annual medical or physical fitness examinations.
Johnson did not have any underlying medical conditions that contributed to his death, the NIOSH report states. He was described as muscular, 5 feet 10 inches and 210 pounds, and had been training on his own before entering the academy.
The temperature at the time of the 6:15 a.m. run was 73 degrees, but NIOSH investigators calculated the morning workout caused Johnson to lose a significant amount of fluids during the hour and 10-minute jog in formation.
"Given the trainee's weight, running speed and air temperature, it is estimated he lost almost a liter of sweat without an opportunity to replenish the loss during the run,“ the report states. It recommends HFD place water stations along the route or provide water bottles.
HFD officials at the training academy and arriving paramedics immediately treated Johnson, placing ice packs on his body and administering oxygen and giving him fluids intravenously. After arrival at the hospital 45 minutes after his collapse, Johnson's internal temperature was measured at 105.3 degrees and was estimated to have been much higher.
Related
Lawyer Claims FDNY Probie Was "Trained to Death"
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Todd Brewer on
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Can you say law suit . Boy that's a waste of a good person who probably trained for more then a yr to get to that point and then get KILLED, by something that could have been avoided! MY prayers go out to his family ... who at this point will look at Fire Fighters with hurt in there hearts knowing that their son wanted to be the best he could to get a job/life style and be proud of his Fire house. Now he has NO chance!
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Permalink Reply by Sam Cooper on
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Our policy states that during our training we are to go to rehab in get water and get cooled off. So that incident could have been avoided. My prayers go out to his family.
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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Without having a lot more information about this, it's hard for me to say anything critical about Houston's training practices.
This 4.4 mile run - in formation with 35 other cadets (who apparently suffered no ill-effects) - was done in an hour and 10-minutes. That's a pace that can only be described as leisurely. I'm not exactly 26, but I can walk 4.4 miles in an hour and 10-minutes. The run took place at 06:15 in 73 degree weather. Those conditions sound ideal to me. I have a feeling that if water had been placed along the route, someone would say not enough water was placed along the route.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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This was a unnecessary death that could and should have been avoided
Tyler et al, could this not be true of all LODD, training or otherwise? Or are there necessary deaths?
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Disclaimer: I am not affiliated in any way with the City of Houston, Houston Fire Department, or the IAFF local.
I have read the NIOSH report, and I find there are, some shall we say, flaws with their conclusions.
"investigators calculated the morning workout caused Johnson to lose a significant amount of fluids", What constitutes significant?
"it is estimated he lost almost a liter of sweat" Really? 1 liter? Significant? How would one estimate this? Wouldn't body metabolism play a role? Could an underlying illness such as a fever associated with the flu or virus caused his metabolism to increase. This could also cause dehydration, and an already elevated temperature would make it easier for hypothermia to occur, plus it wouldn't show up on autopsy.
People, in the Houston area, we will loose that much in 10 minutes on the fire ground in all our gear. April in Houston at 6:15 in the morning and a temp of 73, with humidity factored in would probably result in a heat index of around 80 maybe. If this amount (1 liter) is significant, then shouldn't we be dropping like flies around here everyday?
The union recommended HFD to have an ice bath available for cadets. Really? An Ice Bath?
I have never seen an ice bath on any fire scene, either in the city, nor out in the county where I work. I would think that if anybody would need it, the boots operating inside with 700-800 degree temperatures with 60 pounds of gear would be the ones. No, we have canopies, misting fans, cold towels, and water.
I am not defending HFD practices or policies. I know that their academy has been operating in this fashion for many years. I am truly sorry that this young man died. My sympathy goes to his family. But this report has me asking more questions than it answers.
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