VERDUGO FIRE ACADEMYVERDUGO FIRE ACADEMY
VERDUGOVERDUGO FIREFIRE ACADEMYACADEMY
VERDUGOVERDUGO FIREFIRE ACADEMYACADEMY
FIREFIGHTER REHABILITATION
Robert Sepulveda, VFA Instructor
FIREFIGHTER REHABILITATION
Robert Sepulveda, VFA Instructor
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ObjectivesObjectives
Define emergency incident rehabilitation.Define emergency incident rehabilitation. Describe why fire fighters need emergency Describe why fire fighters need emergency
incident rehabilitation.incident rehabilitation. List and describe the types of extended List and describe the types of extended
fire incidents where fire fighters need fire incidents where fire fighters need emergency incident rehabilitation. emergency incident rehabilitation.
Describe four other types of incidents Describe four other types of incidents where fire fighters would benefit from where fire fighters would benefit from emergency incident rehabilitation. emergency incident rehabilitation.
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ObjectivesObjectives
Describe the functions of a Describe the functions of a rehabilitation center. rehabilitation center.
List the four parts of revitalization.List the four parts of revitalization. Describe the types of fluids that are Describe the types of fluids that are
well suited for fire fighters to drink well suited for fire fighters to drink during emergency incident during emergency incident rehabilitation. rehabilitation.
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ObjectivesObjectives
Describe the types of food that are Describe the types of food that are well suited for fire fighters to eat well suited for fire fighters to eat during emergency incident during emergency incident rehabilitation.rehabilitation.
Describe the personal responsibilities Describe the personal responsibilities related to emergency incident related to emergency incident rehabilitation. rehabilitation.
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IntroductionIntroduction
You must take care You must take care of yourself so you of yourself so you can help others.can help others.
Rehabilitate: To Rehabilitate: To restore to a restore to a condition of health condition of health or to a state of or to a state of useful and useful and constructive constructive activity.activity.
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IntroductionIntroduction
Without rest and Without rest and recovery:recovery: FatigueFatigue HeadachesHeadaches Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal
problemsproblems
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Factors, Cause, and Need Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitationfor Rehabilitation
Physiological job stressors:Physiological job stressors: From sleep to full activity in secondsFrom sleep to full activity in seconds Not enough time to eat or drinkNot enough time to eat or drink Physical demandsPhysical demands
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Factors, Cause, and Need Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitationfor Rehabilitation
Environmental job stressors:Environmental job stressors: Adverse weather conditionsAdverse weather conditions Unfamiliar locationsUnfamiliar locations Smoke-filled environmentsSmoke-filled environments
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Factors, Cause, and Need Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitationfor Rehabilitation
Personal protective Personal protective equipment (PPE)equipment (PPE) Contributes to heat Contributes to heat
stressstress Can weigh up to 40 Can weigh up to 40
lbs. lbs. Increases energy Increases energy
needed to moveneeded to move Traps body heatTraps body heat Acts as vapor Acts as vapor
barrierbarrier
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Factors, Cause, and Need Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitationfor Rehabilitation
DehydrationDehydration State in which fluid State in which fluid
losses exceed intake losses exceed intake Fire fighter in action Fire fighter in action
can lose up to 2 can lose up to 2 quarts of fluid in less quarts of fluid in less than 1 hourthan 1 hour
Fluid loss reduces Fluid loss reduces strength, endurance, strength, endurance, and mental and mental judgmentjudgment
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Factors, Cause, and Need Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitationfor Rehabilitation
Energy ConsumptionEnergy Consumption During strenuous activity, the body During strenuous activity, the body
burns carbohydrates and fats for burns carbohydrates and fats for energy.energy.
Essential to refuel energy sources with Essential to refuel energy sources with nutritious foodnutritious food
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Factors, Cause, and Need Factors, Cause, and Need for Rehabilitationfor Rehabilitation
A well-rested, well-A well-rested, well-conditioned person conditioned person has more has more endurance and can endurance and can tolerate the tolerate the stresses of stresses of firefighting.firefighting.
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Types of Incidents Affecting Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter RehabilitationFire Fighter Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Rehabilitation required at all required at all incidentsincidents Small incidents may Small incidents may
require only water require only water for rehydration.for rehydration.
Major incidents may Major incidents may require a full require a full rehabilitation rehabilitation center.center.
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Types of Incidents Affecting Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter RehabilitationFire Fighter Rehabilitation
Structure firesStructure fires Intense heat and Intense heat and
stressful conditions stressful conditions cause rapid cause rapid dehydration and dehydration and fatigue.fatigue.
High-rise firesHigh-rise fires Energy resources Energy resources
are drained quickly.are drained quickly.
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Types of Incidents Affecting Types of Incidents Affecting Fire Fighter RehabilitationFire Fighter Rehabilitation
Wildland firesWildland fires Crews need to work Crews need to work
in shifts so their in shifts so their bodies can recover.bodies can recover.
Large fires may Large fires may require hundreds of require hundreds of fire fighters and fire fighters and take weeks to take weeks to extinguish.extinguish.
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Other Types of IncidentsOther Types of IncidentsRequiring RehabilitationRequiring Rehabilitation
Hazardous Hazardous materials incidentsmaterials incidents
Long-duration Long-duration search -and -search -and -rescue activitiesrescue activities
Large-scale Large-scale training activitiestraining activities
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Other Types of IncidentsOther Types of IncidentsRequiring RehabilitationRequiring Rehabilitation
Non-emergency Non-emergency eventsevents Athletic eventsAthletic events Stand-by Stand-by
assignmentsassignments
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Other Types of IncidentsOther Types of IncidentsRequiring RehabilitationRequiring Rehabilitation
Nourishment and fluid replacement are Nourishment and fluid replacement are essential whenever fire fighters must be essential whenever fire fighters must be ready for action.ready for action.
Weather conditionsWeather conditions Heat causes rapid dehydration and fatigue.Heat causes rapid dehydration and fatigue. High humidity reduces evaporative cooling.High humidity reduces evaporative cooling. Cold weather can cause hypothermia.Cold weather can cause hypothermia.
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How Does Rehabilitation How Does Rehabilitation Work?Work?
Six Functions:Six Functions: Medical monitoringMedical monitoring RevitalizationRevitalization Medical monitoring and treatmentMedical monitoring and treatment Transportation Transportation Critical incident stress managementCritical incident stress management ReassignmentReassignment
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Physical AssessmentPhysical Assessment
Signs and Signs and symptoms of symptoms of fatigue fatigue
Crew should be Crew should be observed for signs observed for signs of emotional of emotional stress.stress.
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RevitalizationRevitalization
RestRest Opportunity to Opportunity to
disengage from disengage from stressful activities stressful activities and remove PPEand remove PPE
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RevitalizationRevitalization
Fluid replacementFluid replacement Rehydrate with Rehydrate with
water. water. Restore electrolytes Restore electrolytes
with diluted sports with diluted sports drinks.drinks.
Avoid caffeinated Avoid caffeinated and sugar-rich and sugar-rich drinks.drinks.
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RevitalizationRevitalization
NutritionNutrition Glucose needed to burn fat and release Glucose needed to burn fat and release
energyenergy Need to balance glucose levels for the Need to balance glucose levels for the
body to work properlybody to work properly Too low = weakness, shakingToo low = weakness, shaking Too high = sluggishnessToo high = sluggishness
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RevitalizationRevitalization
Nutrition Nutrition (continued)(continued) CarbohydratesCarbohydrates
Major source of fuelMajor source of fuel Readily used by the Readily used by the
body during high-body during high-intensity activitiesintensity activities
ProteinsProteins Used by the body to Used by the body to
grow and repair grow and repair tissuestissues
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RevitalizationRevitalization
Nutrition (continued)Nutrition (continued) FatsFats
Used for energy, insulating and protecting Used for energy, insulating and protecting organs, and breaking down vitaminsorgans, and breaking down vitamins
Simple sugars stimulate insulin Simple sugars stimulate insulin production.production.
Sugar consumption can lead to lower energy Sugar consumption can lead to lower energy levels.levels.
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RevitalizationRevitalization
Nutrition (continued)Nutrition (continued) During short incidentsDuring short incidents
Consume low-sugar, high-protein sports Consume low-sugar, high-protein sports bars.bars.
During extended incidentsDuring extended incidents Eat smaller, balanced meals that include Eat smaller, balanced meals that include
complex carbohydrates.complex carbohydrates. Proper nutrition is part of a healthy Proper nutrition is part of a healthy
lifestyle.lifestyle.
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RevitalizationRevitalization
Temperature Temperature stabilizationstabilization Remove turnout gear Remove turnout gear
as soon as possible.as soon as possible. Move to climate-Move to climate-
controlled controlled environment.environment.
In cold conditions, In cold conditions, use a heated use a heated rehabilitation center.rehabilitation center.
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Medical Monitoring and Medical Monitoring and TreatmentTreatment
Medical monitoring and treatmentMedical monitoring and treatment Abnormal vital signs, pain, and injury Abnormal vital signs, pain, and injury
necessitate further medical treatment.necessitate further medical treatment. Signs of illness or injury should be Signs of illness or injury should be
checked in the rehabilitation center checked in the rehabilitation center to prevent later disruption on the fire to prevent later disruption on the fire scene.scene.
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Transportation to a HospitalTransportation to a Hospital
Ambulance Ambulance available at available at rehabilitation rehabilitation centers to: centers to: Transport ill fire Transport ill fire
fightersfighters Transport injured Transport injured
fire fightersfire fighters
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Critical Incident Stress Critical Incident Stress ManagementManagement
CISMCISM Confronts critical incidents, defuses Confronts critical incidents, defuses
them, and directs the fire fighter toward them, and directs the fire fighter toward physical and emotional balancephysical and emotional balance
Team members may meet with Team members may meet with companies or individual fire fighters.companies or individual fire fighters.
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ReassignmentReassignment
Fire fighters released to Fire fighters released to reassignment following:reassignment following: RestRest RehydrationRehydration RefuelingRefueling Rechecking that they are fit for dutyRechecking that they are fit for duty
May return to the same or different May return to the same or different taskstasks
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Personal Responsibility Personal Responsibility in Rehabilitationin Rehabilitation
““Safety Begins and Ends with You”Safety Begins and Ends with You” Take care of yourself first, your team Take care of yourself first, your team
second, others third.second, others third. Know your own limits.Know your own limits. Be responsible: participate in Be responsible: participate in
emergency incident rehabilitation.emergency incident rehabilitation.
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SummarySummary
Rehabilitation centers are special Rehabilitation centers are special designated areas where emergency designated areas where emergency personnel can rest.personnel can rest.
Rehabilitation helps prevent injuries and Rehabilitation helps prevent injuries and illness.illness.
Rehabilitation centers are often required Rehabilitation centers are often required at wildland fires and structure fires that at wildland fires and structure fires that are large or continue for long periods of are large or continue for long periods of time.time.
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SummarySummary
Six parts of revitalization:Six parts of revitalization: Medical monitoringMedical monitoring RevitalizationRevitalization Medical monitoring and treatmentMedical monitoring and treatment Transportation Transportation Critical incident stress managementCritical incident stress management ReassignmentReassignment
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SummarySummary
Replace fluids before signs of Replace fluids before signs of dehydration become obvious.dehydration become obvious.
Meet nutritional needs during minor Meet nutritional needs during minor incidents with low-sugar, high-protein incidents with low-sugar, high-protein sports bars.sports bars.
During longer incidents, eat small During longer incidents, eat small frequent meals that contain the frequent meals that contain the appropriate nutritional balance.appropriate nutritional balance.
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SummarySummary
Know your limits, listen to your body, Know your limits, listen to your body, and use rehabilitation facilities.and use rehabilitation facilities.
Safety begins and ends with you.Safety begins and ends with you.
Any Questions?Any Questions?