Ch23 firefighter survival

Chapter #23

Firefighter Survival

Objectives (1 of 3)• List three main components

that lead to incident readiness.

• Define four key checks to ensure PPE is ready for response.

• List three types of personal accountability systems.

• Define personal size-up.

• Describe three components that lead to “fitness for duty.”

Objectives (2 of 3)

•Name three practices that lead to team continuity.

•Define risk/benefit.

•List and describe three components of rehabilitation.

•Describe the procedures that should be taken to establish and prepare for assignment of a rapid intervention team.

Objectives (3 of 3)

• List the five steps that can lead to an organized rapid escape.

• List the three steps that should be taken when entrapment occurs.

• Compare and contrast post-incident thought patterns and critical incident stress.

Introduction

•Firefighter survival is accomplished through training and education.•PPE, task accountability, and fitness-for-duty all help prevent firefighter emergencies.•If a firefighter emergency occurs, a systematic rescue process would have to be established.

Incident Readiness

• Mental questions

– Am I in a position to respond?

– Is my protective gear available?

– What is my relationship to the response?

– Physically, can I respond?

– Mentally, can I respond?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

•PPE is the first thing firefighters put on, and the last thing they want to be left with when the incident is over.•All clothing materials dry

–Wet clothing reduces the protective insulation and may lead to steam burns.

•All PPE present and positioned for rapid donning.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) cont.

• Essential “pocket tools” available– Flashlight, trauma shears, doorstops,

nylon webbing, carabiners, grease pencils, chalk, sprinkler wedges, pliers, multiple tool, knives, earplugs, self-escape rope and radio.

• Alternative PPE items packed and ready– EMS equipment, wild land PPE,

proximity PPE, etc.

Accountability Systems

•Accountability systems are usually one of three types of systems•Passport

– Crew-card system– team leader reports location or assignment changes to accountability officer.

•Tag– Individual system-F/F’s give tags to staging manger– Staging manager assembles teams and assigns tasks

•Company officer– Oldest and most used system

Accountability Systems cont.

• Regardless of system used, each F/F must be aware of how the system works.

• Failure to be accounted for on the incident is akin to Freelancing!!

• FREELANCING – performing a task that has not been assigned or performing a task alone.

Accountability Systems cont.

• To eliminate freelancing, each and every F/F must be assigned to a team of two or more people and be given specific assignments

• Freelancing can cause injury to other firefighters

Relationship to the Response

• Assignment– Pre-assigned (hyd., noz., etc.)– Various other assignments

• Personal Size-up– Defined as continuous mental

evaluation of F/F’s immediate environments, facts and probabilities.

Personal Size-up cont.

•Evaluation includes:–Weather–Time of day–Current chain of command–Likely assignment

Personal Size-up cont.

• F/F’s should continually evaluate the safety of their environment by staying aware of the following:– Established work areas– Hazardous energy– Smoke conditions– Escape routes

Fitness for Duty

•Mental Fitness–Being mentally ready to respond to an incident at all times rarely happens – firefighter’s lives are complex, busy, and full of mental and, in some cases, emotional challenges–The key is for the firefighter to “check out” of the environment and “check in” to size-up.

Fitness for Duty cont.

• Physical Fitness and Wellness– A fit F/F is less prone to injury

than an unfit F/F– Highly individual – F/F’s have

varied needs based on genetics, gender, metabolic rate, and personal history ( injuries, tolerance levels, etc.)


• Physical Fitness and Wellness– Fitness and wellness lifestyle must

include the following 5 points: 1. Cardiovascular conditioning

2. Core strengthening

3. Flexibility improvement

4. Resistance training (weight-lifting)

5. Nutritional balance


• Energy and Rest– Safety is directly affected by

the energy potential and rest a F/F has stored

– Reduced amount of sleep reduces the physical and mental capacity

– Reduced amount of food in the stomach or 3 hours since consumption F/F will reach fatigue quicker

Safety at Incidents

•Team continuity

•Orders/ communication

•Risk/benefit

•Rehabilitation•Rest

•Hydration

•Nourishment

Safety at Incidents cont.• Team continuity

– F/F’s are assigned to a team of two or more and given specific assignments

– Injuries and death occur when F/F’s allow the urgency of the situation to override prudent judgment

• Orders/ communication– IAP– Communicate thru IMS chain

of command

Safety at Incidents cont.

•Risk/benefit–Defined as an evaluation of the potential benefit that a task will accomplish in relationship to the hazards that will be faced while completing the task.–Risk allot to save allot, Risk a little to save a little


• RehabilitationRest - Achieved during crew rotation

• At rehab maximize rest by sitting, having vital signs checked, and by mentally disengaging from the event

• Active cooling – reduces body core temperature

• If signs and symptoms indicate further rest and/or removal from incident scene

Safety at Incidents cont.•Rehabilitation

Hydration – needed in any incident environment

•Water is vital to the peak operation of virtually every body system from transport of nutrients, to blood flow, to waste removal, to temperature regulation

•F/F’s should drink a quart of water an hour during periods of work

•Substituting carbonated/sugared beverages or other liquids for water can slow the absorption of water into the system

•Sports drinks can be diluted 50% with water in order to speed their absorption into the system

Safety at Incidents cont.• Rehabilitation

Nourishment• Maximizing energy from the

human machine takes a balance of 4 essential elements; oxygen, water, blood sugar (from food), and insulin.

• The key to providing quick energy to the F/F is to find a balance of protein (30), fat (30), and carbohydrate (40)

• 30/30/40 system provides essential elements from three food groups.


•RehabilitationNourishment

•Balance will stabilize insulin release into the bloodstream

•Balance helps to reduce blood sugar levels that often lead to sporadic activity, chemical imbalance, and fatigue

•The balanced approach stimulates the release of hormones and enzymes that optimize human performance – both physical and mental


•RehabilitationNourishment

•Protein is best derived from low fat meats, turkey, chicken, fish, eggs and cheese.

•Fats should be monounsaturated like olive oil, nuts and peanut butter.

•Good carbohydrates include green vegetables, apples, tomatoes, oranges, and oatmeal.

Firefighter Emergencies

• Rapid escape

• Lost firefighter

• Trapped firefighter

• Injured firefighter

Rapid Escape

• Preplan the escape.

– Constantly evaluate escape routes in

various environments

• Report the need for rapid evacuation.

– Actual or impending collapse should be

communicated via radio while exiting the

area

– Not reporting or delay in report can lead to

the injury of other firefighters

Rapid Escape cont.

• Acknowledge rapid evacuation

signals.

– Signals vary from department to

department

– Could be a defined air horn signal

or a barrage of sirens and air horns

or even a radio broadcast – an alert

tone followed by the evacuation

order

Rapid Escape cont.

•Rapidly escape.

–Leave immediately, without tools

–Rapid escape can be

accomplished in a number of

ways, windows, breaching walls,

roof, or balcony and waiting for a

ladder or self rescue to a lower

level. Escape routes will depend

on the situation.

Rapid Escape cont.

• Report successful escape.

– Once the team has escaped the

structure, they must then report a

PAR

– PARs are preformed at given

intervals of 10 to 30 minutes or if

there is a change in modes or

strategies (switch from offensive

to defensive)

Lost, Trapped and Injured Firefighters

•First step is to get help–Activate PASS device and declare “Mayday” or activate emergency button on radio if applicable–Make noise to assist crews in locating you, bang on floor or pipes, also utilize visual signals such as a flashlight


• Second step is to size up the situation and develop a plan

• Key factors to consider:– What exactly is causing the

entrapment?– What is the exposure to fire /

smoke / further collapse?– How much breathing air is left

in the SCBA bottle?


•What is the extent of injuries?

•Is there anything that can be done to self-extricate?

•Is there any self first-aid that can be preformed?

•How can air be preserved?


• Third step is for the firefighter to attempt self rescue– Self-extrication must be a

planned and systematic way opposed to reckless and panic driven

Rapid Intervention Teams

•NFPA 1500 and NFPA 1561 require the formation of RIT teams

•When preparing for RIT assignment, gather tools and equipment.•The RIT should start preplanning information about building construction, layout, and entry/egress routes

Rapid Intervention Teams

• Position near the main entry point and be ready for immediate deployment.

• When “Mayday” is called the RIT should size up the situation and mask up

• Orders are received from IC to initiate search/rescue, unless IC has given RIT the responsibility to self-initiate actions

• RIT reports progress to the IC

Post-Incident Survival

•Post incident thought patterns occur when the firefighters become relaxed during clean up of an incident, causing strains, sprains, and being struck by objects

•Chemical imbalance is another factor that leads to inattentiveness


• Whether the issue is chemical imbalance or post-incident thought patterns, the F/F needs to stay alert and try to pick up signs of potential injury and take steps to cope with it.

• Firefighters are expected to tolerate a certain level of incident stress, given the nature of the environment that firefighting brings


•Incidents that are especially gruesome or involve significant human tragedy can easily impact firefighters on an emotional basis. This is referred to as critical incident stress (CIS)

Critical Incident Stress (CIS)

• Events can trigger emotional response.

• Most times response is kept internal.

• Signs of CIS are exhibited in many ways and include:– Faraway stares– Desire to be alone– Firefighters that stop and look as if

they have forgotten their task

Critical Incident Stress (CIS)

•Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is important process.

•CISM can take many forms, both formal and informal.

CISM

• After an incident of significant magnitude, a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is a formal type of CISM that may be held by peers and mental health professionals.

Summary•Survival depends on proactive and preventive actions.•Fitness includes both mental and physical.•Perform orders with attention to communication.•RIT teams are for immediate deployment.•Remain calm during an emergency situation.

Education

Ch23 firefighter survival