Participants are urged to report any unsafe activity or condition to an instructor immediately. Likewise students that experience any medical occurence are to immediately alert an instructor and discontinue the evolution in a safe manner.
As Safety Director please ask if you have a safety suggestion, concern or inquiry. I may be reached via email at john.drucker@middletownfireacademy.com
Reports and Information
FYI Fluid Intake
Hydration, or lack of it is the most commonly problem faced at the training academy. Instructors are trained to monitor student performance and well being and are often heard instructing students to continually take in fluids. Under stressful situations the human body losses fluids at a rapid rate. Those fluids need to be replaced before signs and symptons of dehydration set in.
The body's initial responses to dehydration are;
- thirst to increase water intake along with
- decreased urine output to try to conserve water. The urine will become concentrated and more yellow in color.
As the level of water loss increases, more symptoms can become apparent. The following are further signs and symptoms of dehydration:
- dry mouth
- the eyes stop making tears
- sweating may stop
- muscle cramps
- nausea and vomiting
- lightheadedness (especially when standing).
The body tries to maintain cardiac output (the amount of blood that is pumped by the heart to the body); and if the amount of fluid in the intravascular space is decreased, the body has to increase the heart rate, which causes blood vessels to constrict to maintain blood pressure. This coping mechanism begins to fail as the level of dehydration increases. With severe dehydration, confusion and weakness will occur as the brain and other body organs receive less blood.
In heat-related illness, the body's attempt to cool itself by sweating may cause dehydration to the point that muscles may go into spasm (heat cramps). It is often the muscles that are being stressed that will spasm. As fluid loss increases, the patient may be so dehydrated that there is not enough water to sweat and heat exhaustion or heat stroke may occur.
So in summary;
1) Dehydration occurs when water intake is less than water loss.
2) Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening.
3) Prevention is the important first step in treating dehydration.
With that said its important to maintain and not just replace lost fluids. Students should discipline themselves to continually take in fluids and not wait until they are thirsty. Learning this important lesson will payoff throughout each of our firefighting careers.
Flashover Chamber Report-Preliminary (PPS)