Environmental Injuries - Heat Stress

It’s hot out there.  No surprise there. 

Heat Indicator courtesy of the FAA's website

Heat exhaustion comes on slowly, but heat stroke comes on fast.  Both are hard to avoid in your line of work.  And, did you know that heat stress can lead to problems like lower performance levels and slips & falls?  Heat stress is caused by high temperatures and dehydration, but they can be stopped with preparation and proper treatment as they begin. 

Quick tips for avoiding heat stress: 

• Pay attention to yourself and others.
• Know what it looks and feels like:  red and dry skin, throbbing headaches, dizziness, confusion, disorientation, delusion, irritability, nausea, swollen tongue, rapid heart rate.   
• Drink lots of cool water or cool non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages.
• Take breaks and apply cool compresses to your body to regulate body temperature.

TCFP Library videos about heat stress

• HEAT, HEART, AND HEALTH
  AV07-2100  Length: 60:00  Format: DVD  Author: FETN
• HEAT: WORKING IN HOT ENVIRONMENTS
  AV05-1863  Length: 25:00  Format: DVD  Author: EMERGENCY FILM GROUP
• EMERGENCY INCIDENT REHABILITATION, PART 1 & 2
  AV06-1950  Length: 60:00  Format: DV  Author: FETN

Tips for your Rehab program

• Emergency Incident Rehabilitation (USFA) Chapter Two: Heat Stress and the Firefighter. Includes Rehab SOPs.
• Firefighter Hydration During Rehab (Fire Engineering, December 2006)
• Proper Hydration Is Not As Simple as H2O (Fire Chief, August 2001)
• Working in Hot Environments (NIOSH) 
• Firerehab.com's Heat Exhaustion webpage 

Learn more about NFPA 1584 - Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises
The Elephant on the Fireground: Secrets of NFPA 1584-Compliant Rehab (Fire Engineering, 2008)
Contact the library if you need assistance adhering to or if you need help locating sample SOPs for rehabilitation. 


What are other departments doing?

Austin Fire Department recently obtained a rehab truck.  Check it out!

Contact the library if you’d like help writing a grant proposal to get such a van for your department.

Spread the word about being safe in the extreme heat with this humorous, and smart, video.  

Stay tuned for information on avoiding another common Environmental Injuries... 
Poison Plants