Health and Safety Guidelines for Firefighter Training

OVERVIEW

Introduction/Scope of ProblemProject GoalsResearch Design and ExecutionHealth and Safety Guidelines

FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES year number2005992004108 2003111 2002100 2001106 2000105 1999113 199893

(Plus 343 on 9/11)

TRAINING FATALITIES year number200514200413 200312 200211 200114 200013 19993 199812

FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES Type of Duty-2005

SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH1995-2004

LEADING TYPES of TRAINING ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED with FATALITIES (1990-2000)Physical FitnessEquipment/Apparatus DrillLive FireUnderwater/DiveSCBAClass/SeminarDriver TrainingEnroute/Returning

Source: USFA 20023125.917.28.66.95.23.40 5 10 15 20 25 30 351.7

TRAINING INJURIES-2003CategoryBurnsSmokeOther Burns & Smoke Wound, Cut SubtotalInhalationRespiratoryInhalation Bleeding, Bruise

N330258535 11851660%4.70.41.20.5 16.723.0

CategoryDislocation, Heart AttackStrain, Thermal Stress OtherTotalFractureor StrokeSprain

N340704130325 575 7,100%4.81.058.24.6 8.1 100NFPA 2004

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF FIREFIGHTINGCardiac FailureThermal StressInhalation of ContaminantsDisorientation and Panic

CARDIAC FAILUREMost likely cause of firefighter fatalities is cardiac arrestSevere exertion stresses the heart and requires it to deliver more blood to working muscles

PROJECT GOALSProvide a tool to assist the fire service on a national level with reducing the number and seriousness of training-related injuries and deaths

Develop standardized guidelines for health management of firefighters during training activities

CENTER for FIREFIGHTER SAFETY RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPMaryland Fire and Rescue InstituteFire Protection Engineering DepartmentSmall Smart Systems CenterVivoMetrics Government Services Project funded by Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program by DHS

THE LIFESHIRT SYSTEMAmbulatory MonitoringObjective Physiologic DataPeripheral Diagnostic Devices

THE LIFESHIRT SYSTEM

VivoMetrics LifeShirt DATAPulmonary FunctionRespiratory rateTidal VolumeMinute VentilationElectrocardiogram (ECG)AccelerometerBlood Oxygen SaturationSkin Surface TemperatureCore Body Temperature

RESEARCH PROTOCOLHarvard Step TestTraining EvolutionsMazeFirst Floor BurnThird Floor BurnRITObtained data from actual firefighting activity

HARVARD STEP TESTValidated test to estimate aerobic capacity based on fitness indexSubjects step to a 30-step cadence on and off a 20 cm box for five minutes

MAZE EVOLUTIONThree story obstacle courseParticipants in full PPE and SCBATraverse at own pace

BURN EVOLUTIONSFirst FloorThird FloorRIT Team

INSTRUMENTATIONTemperature Sensors

Average ceiling temperature of 725 FRange of temperature from 714 F to 1,285 FTemperature above 930 F not recommendedoooo

THE PARTICIPANTSOver 200 firefighters

AGE AND MORPHOMETRY

GENERAL FINDINGSMaze and Burn EvolutionsFitness Level Hydration Status

FITNESS LEVEL vs PERFORMANCE Lower heart rates and levels of minute ventilation, breathing frequency and inspired and expired air flow were observed in the most fit individuals compared to all other fitness groups.

HYDRATION vs PERFORMACEThe most hydrated participants had a significantly lower relative heart rate response compared to all other hydration groups.

BURN ROOM TEMPERATURES

TURNOUT GEAR PERFORMANCE

DECISION TREEBased on multiple regression analysis and derivitive equations Serve to predict the range of values expected based on age and fitness level

Instructors are expected to comply with the standards in NFPA 1041, Fire ServiceInstructor Professional Qualifications (2002)INSTRUCTORS

Facilities used for live fire training are expected to comply with NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions(2002)TRAINING FACILITIES

Before the beginning of any training evolution, and especially for live fire trainingevolutions, a safety plan must be developed. SAFETY PLAN

Full personal protective equipment will be available and required for all studentsparticipating in practical training evolutions.PPE

During any live fire training evolutions qualified, experienced safety officer will be appointed and must remain through the duration of the evolutions. SAFETY OFFICER

Training facilities and instructors should monitor weather conditions and adjust or cancel related activities as conditions warrant. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Medical evaluations in accordance with NFPA 1582, Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments (2003) should be conducted as a baseline for surveillance and annually thereafter on all individuals engaged in firefighter emergency functions.MEDICAL EVALUATION

NFPA Study of United States Fire Service (2001)73 percent of firefighters worked in fire departments that did not have a program to maintain basic firefighter fitness and health as required in NFPA 1500 In rural communities, (population under 2,500), 88 percent of firefighters did not have a firefighter fitness and health program

U.S. Firefighter Fatalities Due to Sudden Cardiac Death, 1995-2004 (NFPA 2005)During the study there were 1,006 on-duty firefighter fatalities of which 440 (43.7%) fell into the category of sudden cardiac death.Autopsies or post mortem information was reported for 308 of the 440 victims of sudden cardiac deathOf the 308 firefighters, 134 (43.5%) had prior known heart-related conditions. These included previous heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty/stent placementAn additional 97 firefighters had atherosclerotic heart disease defined as arterial occlusion of at least 50 percent

The seven question PAR-Q should be used by fire training academies as a means toscreen students prior to participation in firefighter emergency training evolutions. MEDICAL SCREENING

PAR-Q & YOU

Fitness evaluations in accordance with NFPA 1582, Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments (2003) should be conducted as a baseline for surveillance and annually thereafter on all individuals engaged in firefighter emergency functions. FITNESS EVALUATION

Fire training academies should conduct a two-fold fitness screening on all individuals prior to participation in firefighter emergency training. FITNESS SCREENING

BODY MASS INDEXBMI = Weight (lb)/[height (in)]2 * 703

BMIWeight StatusBelow 18.5Underweight18.5 24.9Normal25.0 29.9Overweight30.0 and AboveObese

FITNESS INDEXHarvard Step Test

FI = (100 * test duration in seconds)/(2 * THB in recovery)

Fitness LevelFitness Index

Excellent>90Good80-89High Average65-79Low Average55-64Poor< 55

The training academy should provide instructions to participants to and during firefighter emergency training to encourage proper hydrationHYDRATION

Training academies should adhere to NFPA 1584, Recommended Practice on the Rehabilitation of Members Operating at Incident Scene Operations and Training Exercises. MEDICAL MONITORING

In all cases, only fuels with known burning characteristics that are controllable are to be used and only in quantities needed to create the desired fire size. FUEL LOAD AND EXPOSURE

Call to ActionOur duty now is to learn from the effort, but most importantly to implement the recommended firefighter training guidelines in each and every fire department throughout the United States.

Thank you for your participation!

What we know