Keeping firefighters safe in real time

Student Doctor Tim Duff

Firefighting comes with its own set of risks, including smoke and heat stress. It’s important that all members return home safely – and that’s where our skilled rehabilitation units can help.

CFA Rehabilitation units support the health and well-being of members place of fire. CFA has 22 rehabilitation units across the state – all run by volunteers – and one team CFA headquarters.

The units are equipped with health monitoring equipment, thermoanemometersoxygen, heating equipment, fans, water, feminine hygiene kits and snakebite kits to help firefighters recover quickly and return to operational duty as soon as possible.

We spoke to four volunteers from our rehabilitation units about their experiences and the importance of rehabilitation.

ANGELA COX, YELLINGBO BRIGADE

Although she is now also an operational firefighter and brigade secretary, Angela Cox, a registered nurse, joined Yellingbo Fire Department in 2016 specifically for the rehabilitation of firefighters.

“After attending a community safety awareness day, I knew I wanted to help my local community,” said Angela. “As Yellingbo I had my first vehicle dedicated to rehabilitation and I had a medical background, so I jumped at the opportunity to use my skills and contribute in that way.

“But you don’t have to be a healthcare worker to join the rehabilitation unit. Most of our team members are non-medically qualified, and full training is provided in firefighter cooling methods, hydration practices and first aid for injuries.

“The units are closely related “the team provides camaraderie, and being part of the rehabilitation team is a great way to give back to the community if you don’t want to be an active firefighter.”

Angela emphasizes the importance of the role and significance of rehabilitation units in preventing serious injuries and hospitalization firefighters poisoned by carbon monoxide.

“Our job is to help everyone get home safely,” she said. “Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas. What we don’t do realize As firefighters, we need to remember that it builds up in our blood when we are around toxic smoke and fumes.

“By having firefighters step away from the fire for half an hour so they can lower their body temperature and breathe fresher air, while we check their hydration and carbon monoxide levels, we can make sure they are safe and rested, ready to return to fighting the fire.

“Early intervention is key. That’s why it’s so important to ask for rehabilitation early so we can be most effective,” Angela added.

TIM DUFF, WOODEN TIP AND WANGARATTA BRIGADES

“Depending on the services being offered at the time of the incident, the rehabilitation unit may be an opportunity to sit down, have a drink and something to eat, chat or go for tests while you rest,” said medical student Tim Duff.

Tim joined Wood The firefighter became a firefighter at the end of 12th grade because he felt frustrated that he could not support his community during area fires.

“Joining the rehabilitation unit came later when the teams became more popular and we created one in Wood“he said. “I am currently placed in Wangaratta As part of my studies and during my stay here, I respond with District 22 and 23 units.

“Being part of a rehabilitation unit is a great way to get involved, see more incidents and experience the logistical side of emergency management. There are roles for firefighters, non-operational members and, of course, healthcare workers.”

Tim said the evidence shows that rehabilitation works and its goal is to keep members safe and place of fire.

“The members of the rehabilitation department are well trained, Resources and informed and are there to prevent people from getting to the point where they need serious medical attention,” he said. “It’s better to catch the little things before they go unnoticed and affect your work on place of fireYour return to work or your long-term health.”

Tim recalls a proud moment during the grass fire in Clarkefield where all members of the rehabilitation team were consistently showing high carbon monoxide readings while firefighters were losing consciousness.

“We used this as an opportunity to educate crews about how the chemicals we breathe while fighting a fire can affect us – probably more quickly than most people would. realized“- said Tim.

“It was great to see so many firefighters coming up to us after the event asking about carbon monoxide and how to avoid it.

“For incident controllers and crew leaders, the rehabilitation call is simple, hassle-free and meets the enormous demands of firefighter care. For individuals, there is nothing to lose.”

SUE CLARKE, MOE SOUTHERN BRIGADE I YELLOW NORTHERN REHABILITATION UNIT

“The message is largely about prevention. We rely on our firefighters to keep us safe and we should do everything we can to keep them safe during place of fire” said Sue Clarke.

Sue was a member Maybe Southern Brigade since 2016 Family doctor, was also a member Jallourn North’s rehabilitation team, one of the first rehabilitation teams operating within the brigade CFAsince 2018.

“My husband is a volunteer. Over the years, I have become increasingly concerned about the health and safety of the members place of fire “When the opportunity arose to join the rehab department,” Sue said.

“People fighting fires face a number of potential health issues, especially during long-term operations on hot days when heat stress is a very real risk.

“Often when volunteers come to place of fire “They had already reached the lower limit of hydration, and we know that heat stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular events such as heart attacks.”

Sue said preventing heat stress can reduce the risk of serious health problems that can occur while fighting fires, or even in the weeks after they end.

“We have monitoring equipment to help us assess heat stress and carbon monoxide levels. We have cooling chairs, hydration fluids and the most popular – chips and lollipops!

“We also take the time to educate volunteers when we are on the go. place of fire or on training exercises. When volunteers better understand the purpose of rehabilitation, they are found to be more willing to submit to monitoring.

“It’s a proverb we often hear but it’s always true: prevention is better than cure.”

GREG PARKER, SMYTHESDALE BRIGADE

Greg Parker, a registered nurse, was CFA volunteer for 27 years. He joined his parents in Smythesdale brigade when he was 11 years old as a member of the running team. In addition to being the brigade’s specialist response coordinator for rehabilitation, he is currently Grenville group officer.

“When you go to a scene as a rehabilitation unit, you are there to support all the emergency services,” Greg said.

“A lot of members don’t know what we do or what rehabilitation and health monitoring involves. You’re there to provide services, but also to educate members who come in or those who might be hesitant to come in.”

Smythesdale Several years ago the brigade was approached to see if it would be interested in establishing a rehabilitation unit in the Western Region.

“We had some health care workers in the brigade who thought it was a great idea,” he said.

“Some members were skeptical because they weren’t sure how these cooling chairs worked. But once they experienced them, there was a complete change in their thinking about the unit.

“We started with reworked support trailer and about three or four years ago we managed to buy a purpose-built rehabilitation unit as part of WESEP.”

Greg encourages members to come over and talk if they see a rehab unit place of fire.

“Firefighter rehabilitation is essential to help our members recover from place of fire. It is there to help crews recover from their hard work by giving them a place to eat, hydrate and, if necessary, have their health monitored by crews.

“And it doesn’t have to be just a building fire. Rehabilitation can be used in the case of grass and bush fires, long-term hazardous materiallong-term rescue and many others.

“Come and ask questions. All teams are happy to explain what we do, how we do it and why.”