Starting on time is important for a well-organized event. Consider sizing
and fitting participants the night before to free
up an hour of your morning for other tasks.
For example, one IAFF local held a dinner the night before,
showing photographs of other Fire Ops 101 events to
help orient and prepare
participants for the following day.
Another excellent idea is to
transport participate to the
event site on fire engines.
Grouping Participants
As participants register,
group and color code them. The number
of participants in the group should be determined by dividing the total number of participants by the number of scenarios. Assign one wrangler to each group. The wrangler should hold a sign or wear something
to indicate his or her group
color. The participants can
be color coded using colored
tape around their arm or on
their helmet. Do not put adversaries in the same group.
The Morning Medical Check
All participants must
complete a medical history form prior to arrival. This can be sent
in advance and be included
with the waiver and size chart. The department's medical director may
also recommend specific guidelines to determine
an individual's ability to participate. Recommend to participants to describe any problems that might prohibit them from participating in an event, such as a bad knee, asthma or high blood pressure.
On the day of Fire Ops 101,
check each participant's vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure, and compare
it with information they provided on their medical history form. EMS
personnel should record the vital signs and note any red flags,
such as: high blood pressure
(above 200 systolic and 100 diastolic) or a heart rate
above 100).
If any red flags are
identified during the morning
medical check, follow these guidelines. Individuals who have no history of heart or breathing problems :
Participants may be excited on the day of Fire Ops 101 and may have an elevated heart or blood pressure rate, even if they have no history of heart or breathing problems. If an individual fails to meet the requirements listed above,
have him/her relax for 20 minutes and then repeat the vital sign check. If, after 20 minutes, the individual fails to meet the requirements, then politely tell the individual to sit out of the scenarios. The individual can be an observer for the day.
Individuals who have a history of heart and/or breathing problems:
If an individual has a history of heart or breathing problems and exceeds the vital sign rates listed above, he/she should sit out of the scenarios. The individual can be an observer for the day. These general guidelines should always be verified with the medical director and modified, if necessary.
EMS in Fire Ops 101
An EMS unit with transport capability should be on site
throughout the day. EMS will hold the medical history forms, color coded by group. The wranglers will be notified if anyone in their group has a notable medical history. The history forms should be kept in a confidential file with the waivers and other forms.
Download: Medical Check Form |
