Woodstock FD and the hazards of the job

The Woodstock Fire Department is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of its firefighters and others, as it hosted, on February 9, nearly 90 EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, and other emergency personnel from Woodstock and its surrounding towns at the Woodstock Firehouse for a class on emergency incident rehabilitation. Led by emergency medicine specialist Dr. Amy Gutman, the group was educated on the little discussed but often deadly hazards of over-exertion, stress, and smoke inhalation commonly faced by firefighters on the job.

According to Gutman, there are “systematic problems” in the way that firefighters strain themselves while putting out fires. “Fifty percent of line of duty deaths are due to stress and over-exertion,” said Gutman. When firefighters put themselves directly into the fire, they are exposed to extremely high temperatures and toxic smoke, which, if withstood for too long, can lead to complications such as severe dehydration and cardiac arrest, as well as carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning.

Incident rehab

Besides wearing proper masks and gear, Gutman stressed the importance of emergency incident rehab — “a period of medical assessment and treatment provided between working periods.” This could include anything from resting, eating a candy bar, and rehydrating to having vitals checked every 30 to 40 minutes. “It does save lives,” she concluded.

After hearing about Gutman and the necessity of rehab, Woodstock Fire Chief Kevin Peters decided it was important for the emergency-response community to learn as much as possible about ways to create a safer environment for firefighters. “We don’t want anyone collapsing on the scene,” he said. The Woodstock Fire Department’s rehab team currently consists of an ambulance, paramedic, and EMT. Peters plans on having “more rehab at calls. I’m thinking about two ambulances.”

To learn more about emergency incident rehab, visit www.preparedrescuer.com/.