Chapter 9 Reading Firefighters

Question 1

Define Acclimation

Answer 1

An individuals gradual process of becoming accustomed to an environment

Question 2

Define accommodation

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Define Active cooling

Answer 3

The process of using external methods or devices (hand and forearm cold water/ice immersion, covering the head and neck with cold wet towels, and gel cooling vests) to reduce elevated body core temperatures

Question 4

Define 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

Define circadian rhythm

Answer 5

A persons physiological response to the 24-hour clock, which includes sleep, energy peaks, and necessary body functions

Question 6

Define 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

Define passive cooling

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Define Transient heat fatigue (THF)

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

Define Work hardening

Answer 9

Efforts to improve an individuals strength, flexibility, and aerobics to help prevent overexertion at incidents

Question 10

What is the leading cause of injuries and deaths at incidents?

Answer 10

overexertion

Question 11

What are the 3 stressors that influence overexertion?

Answer 11

environment, human physiology, and quality of rehab efforts

Question 12

What is the equation for ergonomic stress

Answer 12

physical setting + worker relationship to setting + task requirements = ergonomic stress

Question 13

What are the ergonomic stressors that should be evaluated to determine if injury potential exists?

Answer 13

physical setting
worker relationship to the setting
task requirements

Question 14

What are the 3 strategies to abate or mitigate the ergonomic hazard?

Answer 14

awareness
accommodation
acclimation

Question 15

What is the most used and simple ergonomic abatement strategy?

Answer 15

Awareness

Question 16

Exposure to hot and cold can be influenced by which environmental factors?

Answer 16

ambient air temp
humidity
wind speed
thermal radiaton
direct sun exposure
wetness

Question 17

What is an average core temperature?

Answer 17

98.6 deviation of one or two degrees can be tolerated without risk

Question 18

What core temps will affect physical performance?

Answer 18

above 101F or below 96F

Question 19

What is the progression of heat stress injuries?

Answer 19

THF
Heat rash
Heat cramps
Heat exhaustion
Heatstroke

Question 20

How many degrees of F is added to apparent temp when in structural fire ppe?

Answer 20

10F

Question 21

After how many minutes will FF in full turnout gear have elevated body temp to 101.5

Answer 21

after 20 minutes or one SCBA bottle

Question 22

What is the injury progression of cold stress injuries?

Answer 22

shivering
frostnip
frostbite
hypothermia

Question 23

How do you combat thermal stress?

Answer 23

accommodation
rotation
hydration

Question 24

How much water per hour should working firefighters consume?

Answer 24

quart per hour, or 4-8oz per 15-20 min of work

Question 25

What are the main electrolytes that must be replaced?

Answer 25

potassium and sodium

Question 26

What is the entry rate of carbohydrates into the bloodstream known as?

Answer 26

glycemic index

Question 27

What should the mix be of carbohydrates, protein, and fat?

Answer 27

40/30/30

Question 28

An intervention designed to mitigate against the physical, physiological, and emotional stress of firefighting in order to sustain a members energy, improve performance, and decrease the likelihood of on-scene injury or death

Answer 28

emergency incident scene rehab

Question 29

What are the NFPA standards that address rehab?

Answer 29

1584, 1561, 1521

Question 30

What are the 5 components of rehab?

Answer 30

rest
hydration
BLS
energy nutrition
accommodation for weather conditions

Question 31

How long should the first break of self-rehab be after 30-40 min bottle use?

Answer 31

10min
subsequent bottle breaks should be 20 min
call 10/20 rule

Question 32

How long does 1 hour bottles require rest of self-rehab?

Answer 32

20 min for first bottle

Question 33

How long does it take vital signs to resume normal levels?

Answer 33

20 minutes minimum

Question 34

When is formal rehab required?

Answer 34

incidents that require physical labor over 2 hours
high rise fires not controlled by single company
wildland fires that require more than an initial attack company
hazmat that require tech level
confined space involved
exposed to weather extremes for longer than an hour
incident require excessive physical labor and rotational of crew
incidents that involve defined hourly work periods

Question 35

Following 20 min of rest cooling and hydration what are the factors that determine need for further rest?

Answer 35

pulse over 120
body temp over 100.5, skin temp might be 2F lower than actual body temp
Diastolic blood pressure above 90
Systolic blood pressure above 130