Ch. 10: Reading Firefighters Flashcards
If we are truly dedicated to preventing injuries and deaths, we need to address the number one cause of injuries - _____________.
overexertion
What are the related factors that influence overexertion?
Ergonomics, physiology, and rehab efforts.
What is the science of adapting work or working conditions to a worker?
ergonomics
What is the key to preventing overexertion?
Being aware of the muscular and skeletal stresses and strains that firefighters undergo.
The ISO should evaluate the environment, the relationship of the worker to the environment, and the task being attempted.
Often, a slight change in any of these areas can reduce injury potential.
What are the three strategies that an ISO can utilize to abate or mitigate ergonomic hazards?
Awareness, accommodation, and acclimation.
Which ergonomic abatement strategy is perhaps the most used and certainly the most simple?
Awareness
Which is the ergonomic abatement strategy that acknowledges that the workers are less apt to suffer an injury if they are aware of the problem, thereby heightening their cautiousness?
Awareness
What ergonomic abatement strategy is used when injury potential is reduced by altering the environment or the task?
Accommodation
What ergonomic strategy is the use of personal protective equipment an example of?
accommodation
What ergonomic strategy is the use of a warning of a slippery surface or a reminder to lift with leg leverage and a tight core an example of?
awareness
What is the most difficult ergonomic abatement strategy to implement during an incident?
acclimation
How is acclimation in terms of ergonomic abatement accomplished?
Most acclimation is done proactively
What does physiological performance depend on of the firefighter?
It depends on the metabolic processing (cell chemistry)
What are the factors that affect cell chemistry include?
thermal stress, hydration, and fuel replacement
What incident efforts can address the factors that affect cell chemistry?
Rehabilitation; “rehab”
In what forms can thermal stress be presented?
Heat or cold.
What are the factors that may cause core temperatures to rise?
Activity, humidity, air temperature, the effectiveness of cooling mechanisms, and sun, shade, and wind.
What can cause heat stress reducing the body’s ability to evaporate heat by sweating?
Full structural protective clothing
The use of shade, air movement, and rest to bring down human core temperatures.
passive cooling
Using external methods or devices (such as hand and forearm immersion, misting fans, or ice vests) to reduce an elevated core temperature?
active cooling
What reaction may be possible when the body reacts to the immediate temperature change that sends a mixed signal to the hypothalamus?
decreased cognitive reasoning
How can the prevention of thermal stress injuries be accomplished through?
Accommodation, rotation, and hydration.
What is vital to the peak operation of virtually every body system?
water
A person’s physiological response to the 24-hour clock, which includes sleep, energy peaks, and necessary body functions.
circadian rhythms
What are the four essential elements that need to be balanced for a cell to work as well as it can?
oxygen, water, glucose, and insulin
What is the key to providing quick energy that optimizes cell performance?
To feed firefighters a balance of low glycemic carbohydrates, protein, and fat. (40/30/30)
What are the components of effective rehab that should be included?
The four Rs: rest, rehydration, Rx, and refueling.
How often should the firefighter be fed when mental and
physical demands remain?
Two to three hours
Which is considered the most difficult abatement strategy
to implement during an incident?
Acclimation
Whose responsibility is it to see that a rehab operation is established at each emergency scene?
ISO
What is ergonomics is being looked at when the surface conditions are being examined?
The physical environment
Which is considered a low glycemic index carbohydrate?
Most vegetables
What is the leading cause of injuries at an incident?
Overexertion
What do most activities at an incident scene require that
are affected by the ergonomics?
Physical labor
Which factor that influences overexertion is defined as
the science of adapting working conditions to a worker?
Ergonomics
What is the foundation for building cellular balance?
Food
What kind of stress can come in the form of heat and cold?
Thermal
After the first hour, what drink can be added to the
firefighter’s rehab?
Sports drinks
Which is NOT an item the ISO needs to evaluate when
determining how the firefighters should adjust their
method of performing a specific task?
The relationship of the worker to the task being attempted
Which may be an early warning sign of heat stress?
Heat rash
Who should make a judgment on whether a firefighter
should return to incident duties based on their best
judgment and vital signs of the firefighter?
Paramedic
Which is considered a high glycemic index carbohydrate?
Orange juice
Which is NOT considered a good protein source for rehab operations?
Hamburger meat
Which helps cells rejuvenate and with the building of new
cells?
Protein
Which is often forgotten in cold stress environments?
Hydration
Which is perhaps the most commonly used abatement
strategy?
Awareness
What is missing from the firefighter’s work environment
that other physically demanding jobs have?
Warm up
Which of the following is NOT associated with the
relationship of the worker when the ISO is looking at the
ergonomics of an incident?
Energy required to perform the task
What should the ratio of carbohydrates/protein/fat
(respectively) be that is fed to the firefighter to
achieve optimal cell performance?
40/30/30
What is a person’s physiological response to the 24-hour
clock?
Circadian rhythms
What is the range of acceptable core temperature (degrees Fahrenheit) for the firefighter at an incident scene?
97 to 100
Which is NOT something that influence overexertion?
Training
What is the answer to the question, “What was I thinking?
generally?
You weren’t.
How long after operations begin should only water be given
to the firefighter?
1 hour
Which type of abatement strategy is using personal
protective equipment?
Accommodation
Which technique has been found to be the most effective
when performing active cooling?
Forearm immersion
Which parts of the body are generally affected by heat
cramps?
Arms and legs
Which is a serious local injury that means a body part is
frozen?
Frostbite
Which heat stress injury is marked by hot, flushed and dry skin?
Heat stroke
How much water should firefighters attempt to drink per
hour during work?
One quart
What is one conclusion that has been reached by texts,
trade magazines and medical journals?
Firefighting requires humans who are physically fit
What must the ISO be aware of to be able to prevent
overexertion?
Muscular stresses and strains
Which is NOT an element that must be in balance for
optimal cell function?
Sucrose
