Initial Attack Rhabdo Injury 2009

On November 16, 2009, at 1600 hours, a firefighter was engaged in initial attack on a fire, laying hose in very steep terrain, soft dirt, with poor traction.  Small cramps starting happening in the firefighter's legs and arms. Twenty minutes later, on the way down hill, upper thigh cramps started to the point where the firefighter could barely walk. When he started back up the hill, the firefighter experienced full body cramping with intense pain. At 1640, the supervisor was notified and paramedics were alerted. The decision was  made to transport to the firefighter to the hospital where blood tests showed poor filtration already occurring in the kidneys  (starting to fail) and extremely high levels of muscle enzymes in blood stream.

The doctor's informed the firefighter that his condition came about from an extreme level of overexertion and lack of calories, which lead to Rhabdomyolysis. The firefighter spent two nights in the hospital for evaluation of his condition.

Heat Related Illness, Rhabdomyolysis, Medical or Exertion