Rehab Unit Operations

Qualifications

• Rehab personnel shall be Active or Associate members of Corolla Fire and Rescue/Ocean Rescue as outlined in the Department By-Laws.
• Rehab personnel shall participate in regular Departmental meetings.
• Rehab personnel shall participate in specific Rehab meetings and training.
• Rehab personnel are encouraged to attend regular monthly Department training.

Organization

• Rehab Unit Leader will be a Corolla Fire and Rescue officer.
• The Unit Leader will be the liaison between the Rehab Unit and the Fire Chief.
• The Unit Leader will have the authority from the Fire Chief to assign organizational staff as deemed appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Rest – provide an area away from hazardous atmosphere to help firefighters, EMS, Ocean Rescue or the public to stabilize vital signs.
• Re-hydration–provide water and sports drink for fluid/electrolyte replacement.
• Restoration of core temperature–water for cooling and an area to warm in cold weather.
• Medical monitoring and treatment–in coordination with EMS, provide assessment and treatment of vital signs, temperature, injuries, etc.
• Relief from weather extremes–provide protection from inclement weather.
• Refueling–provide food for calorie replacement.

Rehab Unit Leader Responsibilities

Rehab Unit Leader shall be designated and communicate with the Incident Commander.

Other responsibilities, but not limited to:

• Ensure supplies and resources are adequate.
• Ensure that firefighters, EMS, Ocean Rescue, Law Enforcement and public are getting adequate rest, re-hydration and treatment as needed.
• Maintain accountability in coordination with Incident Commander.
• Document all personnel entering and leaving Rehab with vital signs, etc.
• Communicate with the Incident Commander and EMS if any personnel require treatment and/or transport.
• Serve as a liaison with EMS.
• Ensure clean-up of site after the incident.

Responsibilities of All Fireground Personnel

• Be familiar with the signs and symptoms of heat stress.
• Maintain awareness of each other’s signs and symptoms of heat stress.
• Ensure their company is properly checked in with Rehab Unit Leader.
• Report any concerns to the Incident Commander, EMS and Rehab Unit Leader.

Response Risk Management

Personal protective gear will be provided by Corolla Fire and Rescue.
All Rehab personnel will be in approved protective gear while on scene.
All Rehab personnel will abide by Corolla Fire and Rescue General Operating Guidelines and By-Laws.

Procedures

• All firefighters, after using two SCBA bottles or at the discretion of Command will go to the Rehab area and get vitals checked and fluids replenished.
• All firefighters will turn in his/her accountability tag to Rehab.
• Any and all injuries will be taken care of in the Rehab area.
• No firefighter will return to the fire scene until Rehab clears that firefighter for further assignments.
• EMS/Rehab will have final say on whether a firefighter is fit to return. EMS/Rehab will communicate all findings to Command on condition of firefighters.
• A base line will be established and kept on record by EMS for reference and comparison use only. (No ones vitals will be given out to the public for any reason.

Any deviations from the above must be approved by the Incident Commander.