Chapter 18 - Reading Firefighters

Question 1

Acclimation

Answer 1

An individual’s gradual process of becoming accustomed to an environment

Question 2

Accommidation

Answer 2

The efforts to alter or adjust the environment, worker relationship, or task to reduce injury potential

Question 3

Active Cooling

Answer 3

The process of using external methods or devices to reduce elevated body core temperatures

Question 4

Atypically Stressful Incident

Answer 4

An incident that involves an unusually gruesome situation, serious firefighter injury, firefighter death, or other potential psychological stress

Question 5

Circadian Rhythm

Answer 5

A person’s physiological response to the 24 hour clock, which includes sleep, energy peaks, and necessary body functions

Question 6

Ergonomics

Answer 6

The science of adapting work or working conditions to a worker and the study of problems associated with people adjusting to their work environment

Question 7

Passive Cooling

Answer 7

The use of shade, air movement, and rest to bring down core temperatures

Question 8

Transient Heat Fatigue

Answer 8

An early warning sign that the core temperature is elevated, as characterized by the onset of physical exhaustion that is remedied by rest and hydration only to return quickly and more profoundly upon engagement with the hot environment

Question 9

Work Hardening

Answer 9

Efforts to improve an individual’s strength, flexibility, and aerobics to help prevent overexertion at incidents

Question 10

Reading Firefighters Concept

Answer 10

Observation of firefighters and predicting when they will make a mistake, exercise poor judgment, and overextend their abilities

Question 11

Overexertion

Answer 11

Number one cause of injuries and deaths in the fire service, often leading to mistakes in judgment or decreased mental awareness

Question 12

Ergonomic Stressors

Answer 12

Related to the physical setting, the relationship of the worker to the setting, and the task requirements

Question 13

Heat Stress Injuries

Answer 13

Progressively get worse as a body core temperature rises.

Question 14

Heat Stress Concept

Answer 14

ISO’s should presume that firefighters working in full PPE and SCBA have elevated core temperatures. The remedy is active cooling through cold/wet towels on head and neck, or forearm cooling.

Question 15

Cold Stress Injuries

Answer 15

Typically frostnip or frostbite

Question 16

Cell Performance

Answer 16

Optimal cell performance is required for arduous firefighting tasks. Cells require oxygen, water, and fuel (glucose)

Question 17

Heat Exposure Concept

Answer 17

Firefighters can lose a quart of water an hour through sweating, breathing, and cell waste removal. Hydration of 4-8oz for every 20 minutes of physical labor is paramount to prevent dehydration

Question 18

Food Choices

Answer 18

Should include a balance of 40% low glycemic carbs, 30% protein, and 30% dietary fat

Question 19

REHAB Acronym

Answer 19

R - Rest
E - Energy nutrition
H - Hydration
A - Accommodation for weather conditions
B - BLS medical monitoring (ALS recommended)

Question 20

Rehab Scaling

Answer 20

Can be scaled as self-rehab for short duration/small incidents, or as formal rehab when the call is large enough

Question 21

Rehab Concept

Answer 21

All members performing rehab must be familiar with signs and symptoms of heat fatigue and other related conditions