The following announcement has been posted on CCFCA:

Drink water

First Responder Safety Bulletin

Heat-Related Injuries

We have seen a trend of heat-related injuries stemming from emergency responses and training during outdoor activities. Please review the tips below that will help in preventing heat-related injuries. With higher temperatures forecasted we encourage you to share this information with your response teams.

Please also remember the resources that are in the County to assist with rehabilitation of first responders during extended operations.

Hydration Tips

Throughout the chaos of running calls, it is essential always to have a bottle of water handy.

Exercising can cause people to lose on average between 8-16 ounces of water within an hour, and a first responder could lose as much as 50 to 70 ounces in sweat in just 30-45 minutes of activity.

That's why first responders must pay close attention to their water consumption. According to the World Health Organization, 8-10 glasses of water should be consumed daily to maintain a healthy hydration level. First responders should drink even more fluids.

You can determine how hydrated you are by looking at the color of your urine. Normal hydration levels should produce a pale yellow color. If needed, sports drinks can boost electrolyte levels and energy better than just water alone. Ultimately, it would help if you were drinking half your body weight in ounces of fluids.

For optimal job performance, first responders need to be hydrated before, during, and after responding to an emergency or training.

Listed below are some helpful tips about staying hydrated provided:

Before Emergency Operations (or exercise)

� Drink at least 16 oz. of water an hour before operations/exercise to ensure your fluid levels are up to par. If you're dehydrated before exercise, try to consume 32 oz. of water.

� Drink 8-10 fl. oz. 10-15 minutes.

During Emergency Operations (or exercise)

� Drink cool (40 degrees F), dilute fluids at a minimum rate of at least 8 oz. every 15 minutes or 34 oz. Per hour. Those who are dehydrated must drink 8 oz. every 10 minutes or 50 oz. Per hour.

� Drink 8-10 oz. every 10-15 minutes.

� If exercising longer than 90 minutes, drink 8-10 oz. of a sports drink (with no more than 8% carbohydrate) every 15-30 minutes.

After Emergency Operations (or exercise)

� If the exercise (emergency activity) lasts for less than an hour, the body should have sufficient electrolyte and carbohydrate supplies to maintain optimal performance. Therefore, for short periods of exercise, water is just as good as sports drinks.

� If exercise (emergency activity) lasts for more than an hour, use a sports drink with electrolytes and carbohydrates along with water to rehydrate the body.

� Weigh yourself before and after exercise and replace fluid losses, drink 20-24 oz. of water for every pound lost.

� If no water was consumed during exercise (emergency operations), aggressively rehydrate at a rate of 16 oz. of fluid every 15-20 minutes.

Information obtained from the International Association of Firefighters, Firefighter Nation, and OSHA.

Posted By: President Gerald DiNunzio