Effects of Heat - Information for your health and safety
Published Date: 15 Dec 2015
Summary
The NSW Rural Fire Service has provided volunteers with the latest information on managing heat during the summer period.
Hard work and heat
Firefighters regularly confront the problems of working in heat, the effects of which include:
- Dehydration
- Heat illnesses
- Premature fatigue
- Poor decision making which can lead to accidents and injuries.
Factors that contribute toward heat illnesses include:
- Steady hard physical work
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Air movement
- Clothing
- Radiant heat from the fire.
The body’s temperature rises normally during hard physical work but is controlled mainly by cooling
through the evaporation of sweat through the skin. The harder the work the higher the body temperature
becomes which adds additional pressure on the body’s blood circulation system. The increased sweat
produced to try and cool the body will result in dehydration
unless replaced by drinking water.
Minimising heat illnesses
In bush firefighting situations, it is essential to remain as effective as possible, often for many hours. A
significant number of heat illness cases arise from the firefighter’s own behaviour. Sensible behaviour is the first line of defence against premature fatigue and heat illness.
By far the greatest heat load arises from physical work.
Avoid overheating by:
- Drinking water frequently
- Regular meals and snacks to replace salt and electrolytes lost through sweating
- Sensible work placing
- Walking not running
- Adopting a comfortable conservative pace on the fire line
- Sharing heavy workloads, such as dragging hose line or crew rotation
- Working at a comfortable distance from the fire (when possible)
- Wearing appropriate clothing correctly
- Reducing dehydration by regularly drinking water.
Drink plenty
Avoiding or minimising dehydration by frequent water intake is the single most important method of maintaining good function on the fire ground.
Sweat losses on the fireground usually exceed one litre per hour and will rapidly lead to dehydration, resulting in premature fatigue and eventually heat exhaustion.
Sweat must be replaced by frequent water intake in small amounts. Avoid consuming large volumes of water at the one time.
Current research suggests that hydration status is optimised by drinking water to thirst.
Water is the best choice
- Increase your body fluid levels before work commences, particularly in hot conditions
- Drink water frequently (at least 150-200mL every 10 – 15 minutes) accompanied by regular meals and snacks to help replace minerals that have been lost through sweating
- Drink water to thirst
- Ensure clean supply of water is available
- Do not drink alcohol as it dehydrates the body
- Avoid excessive amounts of tea or coffee as both tend to increase dehydration.
Be prepared
Work on the fire ground demands good health and fitness. If you are not suitable prepared for the job,
you may not only jeopardise your own safety but that of fellow firefighters. The risk of heat illness is greatly
increased in firefighters who:
- Are overweight and do not undertake regular exercise
- Suffer from heart, circulatory or kidney diseases, high blood pressure or diabetes
- Have skin disorders that impair sweating
- Are taking medications
- Are affected by injury or illness.
Looking after your Mate
All firefighters should assist and monitor the wellbeing of their fellow crew members by:
- Sharing workloads when appropriate
- Encouraging others to pace themselves
- Making sure others drink frequently
- Watching for signs of fatigue and heat illness in others
- Rotating crews regularly
- Dressing down by removing outer layers when having a break.
Protective clothing
Dress properly for bush fires
To reduce radiant heat load on the body, loose fitting NSW RFS bush fire jacket and pants should be worn
with sleeves rolled down.
When not working close to the fire, open up your jacket to encourage cooling. Leaving the pants legs
open at the bottom assists in the ventilation process between the material and the wearer as it reduces the
metabolic heat build-up.
If you are affected by radiant heat, step back in to a cooler, more comfortable environment. For example
retreat to the shade or an air conditioned vehicle.
The NSW RFS personal protective clothing supplied for bush firefighting has been selected to provide an
appropriate level of protection in fire conditions where firefighters are working vigorously and generating a
great deal of heat. The design of the NSW RFS bush fire jacket and pants incorporates side pleat vents
which allow the heat to escape.
Heat illness
The heat illnesses most likely to affect firefighters are:
- Dehydration
- Heat cramps
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat stroke.
Symptoms
- Heat cramps are a result of losing too much water and salt through sweating which results in painful
muscle cramps, usually in the legs and abdomen region.
- Heat exhaustion can be reasonably common the fire ground and if ignored may lead to heat stroke. Heat exhaustion results from being physically active in a hot environment and fluid loss has increased through sweating, reducing the amount of water in the body so that the blood volume falls. Symptoms include feeling hot, exhausted, weak, fatigues, thirsty, faintness, short breaths and cool, moist and pale skin with a rapid weak pulse.
- Heat stroke is an extremely dangerous condition and can be fatal. Water levels in the body become so low that sweating stops and the body temperature rises as it can no longer cool itself. Symptoms include high body temperature of 40 degrees or more, hot and dry skin, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, constant headache, nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness, irritability and mental confusion, and possibly unconsciousness.
Any of these may occur quite suddenly and must be treated seriously and immediately.
First Aid Treatment
Cool for recovery
Early recognition of the symptoms of heat illness and its treatment is vital, to reduce the potential for a more serious heat illness. The Officer in Charge should be alerted immediately.
Any firefighter who feels excessively fatigued or unwell or any firefighter who is noticed by others to be
affected by heat illness should:
-Stop work and be removed from the fireground
- Move to a cooler place, in the shade with a breeze or an air conditioned vehicle
- Loosen and remove as much clothing as reasonable
- Sit or lie down, if feeling faint lie with legs elevated
- Drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) in small portions
- Sponge skin with water and fan to increase evaporative cooling
- Place ice packs on the armpits, groin and neck area to reduce body heat.
Affected individuals should be monitored regularly. If the individual is unconscious, they should be placed in
the recovery position and constantly monitored until medical assistance arrives.
Should they not recover quickly, continue to deteriorate or are unconscious, they should be placed
in the recovery position and constantly monitored until medical assistance arrives.
Should they not recover quickly, continue to deteriorate or are unconscious they should be
regarded as heat stroke victims and DRSABCD should be implemented.
Emergency medical assistance should be sought immediately.
If a firefighter exhibits any heat illnesses, it is important to complete a NSW RFS Report of Workplace Injury or Illness form and return to their local Fire Control Centre as soon as possible and within 48 hours of the injury/illness occurring.
