Fire Rehab

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skyemt

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Hi,

we are in the process of redoing our fire rehab procedures...

looking for ideas, what you guys do, and what you feel works well, and doesn't work so well...

thanks
 
Just an idea, but we are looking into this ourselves. You might want to suggest picking up 2 or 3 of those fans that spray water. I've been in front of a few of them and believe me, they work lol.

It might help a little to let us know, what is your procedure as of now?
 
EMTBandit said:
Just an idea, but we are looking into this ourselves. You might want to suggest picking up 2 or 3 of those fans that spray water. I've been in front of a few of them and believe me, they work lol.

It might help a little to let us know, what is your procedure as of now?
Click to expand...


we didn't really have a solid procedure in place...consider it scrapped and starting over...
 
Pretty low tech here - coolers with ice water on all apparatus. Make sure the guys have plenty to drink, and lots of cool, wet towells to put around their necks, on their heads, etc. Lots of blankets and a warm ambulance in cold weather.

When it is really cold outsite we have a support vehicle that comes out and supplies hot drinks, gatorade, water, etc. They also get called out if it is really hot outside or the run has been going on for an extended period of time.

We have guidelines for vital signs and a minimum rest period as well, but can't give you the details on those. I really need to look over that SOP again. Fortunately, I have been pretty lucky in that I haven't had to really get on to any of my guys about either going to rehab when needed, or staying there until they are cleared to go back to work. Granted, they don't like being there, but they know the rules, and are pretty good about playing by them
 
Another thing that came to mind is that usually when a FF goes through about 2-3 tanks we make them sit down so we can assess their vitals. If there fine we turn em' loose, if their elevated or if anything else about him sends up a red flag we make them cool off for awhile before going back. Most of the FF appreciate us being there and take our advice and the Chief agrees and works with us. But of course there's always the few that like to play macho and go back anyway.

You might also wanna take a look at how you would want to handle any of your own calls that could come in while you are out at the fire scene. We usually have one rig stationed at the scene for transport/care for the FF and the other to handle the calls or we request mutual aid to come in and assist either at the fire scene or for the calls.

We also usually have full spinal and o2 out at the ready and any other equipment we might need in a quick pinch. As said above, keep your rig running for warmth in the winter and A/C in the summer.
 
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EMTBandit said:
Another thing that came to mind is that usually when a FF goes through about 2-3 tanks we make them sit down so we can assess their vitals. If there fine we turn em' loose, if their elevated or if anything else about him sends up a red flag we make them cool off for awhile before going back. Most of the FF appreciate us being there and take our advice and the Chief agrees and works with us. But of course there's always the few that like to play macho and go back anyway.

You might also wanna take a look at how you would want to handle any of your own calls that could come in while you are out at the fire scene. We usually have one rig stationed at the scene for transport/care for the FF and the other to handle the calls or we request mutual aid to come in and assist either at the fire scene or for the calls.

We also usually have full spinal and o2 out at the ready and any other equipment we might need in a quick pinch. As said above, keep your rig running for warmth in the winter and A/C in the summer.
Click to expand...


Being the city's EMS component has meant that there have been several problems over the years that are finally being smoothed over with the FD. Formerly we were only dispatched when requested by FD Command, or on all 2nd alarms and above which in Atl is kinda rare. After a few highly publicized incidents, we are now auto dispatched upon confirmation of a working fire.

As for our role, the FD's Air/Light unit carries all of their rehab supplies and our role is strictly to stand-by with one crewmember at the command post and the other at our unit, or if able to monitor FD TAC channels (not all trucks have compatible radios yet) both crewmembers may stay at our unit.
 
2 suggestions ;

Spike a bag of n/s and plug a nasal cannula into your tubing and you've got a good eye wash setup . Put the cannula on the bridge of the nose and you can do both sides simultaneously .


It's been found that gatoraid is more quickly assimulated into the body if it's diluted , not full strength . Doesn't taste as good , but you'll get faster results .
 
Don't forget to include ambient temperature in your rehab policies. In the Central Valley of CA it can be well over 100F and most FD's require "the full 15 minutes no whining" of rest when it gets that hot. (Assuming there's no immediate life safety issues). Also, assuming initial attack is done, we rehab after every bottle, VS in, VS out, and the FD doc has created a set of standards that the VS have to meet for the FF to get back in action. Every now and then we have to transport a FF whose BP just won't get down to the prescribed level... talk about a hacked-off firefighter, but we get good support from Batt Chiefs and above.
 
We have a protocol that after consuming one bottle of air, the ff must pass a semi physical before returning. This includes, BP/Temperature/ and being able to speak in full sentences. While this is being done, they open up their bunker gear, take off helmets, sit have a drink of water or sports drink and a bite to eat (generally power bars of some sort)
 
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