#110 Rehabilitation

One of the most overlooked necessities on the fire ground is the need to make early and adequate provisions for the rest and rehabilitation of all members operating at the scene. Firefighters need to speak up when they feel the need for rehabilitation, but it should be the responsibility of the Incident Commander and Incident Safety Officer to consider the necessity for early rehabilitation. When it’s determined that a rehabilitation group must be established, the IC should assign a Rehab Officer/Supervisor who can take on the responsibility of initiating the group by ordering the necessary resources and staffing.

 

An effective Rehabilitation Group should be equipped to provide medical treatment, evaluation and monitoring, food and fluid replenishment, mental and physical rest, and relief from extreme climactic conditions and other environmental parameters of the incident.

 

Although the initial development of a Rehabilitation Group is the responsibility of the Officers listed above, it’s worth repeating that each member is individually responsible to notify their co-worker or supervisor when they believe their level of fatigue or exposure to the heat or cold are approaching dangerous levels. Failure to do so could negatively affect fire fighters, their crew, and the operation in which they are involved.