Short Fire Medical Emergency 2016

As the Rock Creek Type 2 IA Crew worked along the fire’s edge, the temperatures continued to climb and areas with shade was limited. Onsite weather observations, taken by a belt weather kit in the shade, showed a high temperature of 103 degrees and a minimum RH of 17 percent. Several of the fire personnel recorded temperatures, under direct sunlight in the “black” of 115 degrees.

By 2000 hours, as Rock Creek was driving back to camp, the Crewmember who had previously had cramps told the Crew Boss he was “overheating.” As they traveled, the Crew Boss turned the vehicle’s air conditioner on in an attempt to cool down the Crewmember. At 2030 hours, when Rock Creek arrived back in camp, the crewmember told the Crew Boss he was cramping and needed help out of the truck. When the crew assisted the Crewmember out of the truck, he was not able to stand on his own. They laid him down on the ground. At approximately 2050 hours, while the Rock Creek Crew Boss was attempting to locate Ops, the Crewmember became unresponsive and had a seizure that lasted approximately 30 seconds . . .

Hand Crews, Heat Injury, Medical Emergency, RLS, Medevac, Health and Fitness, Medical or Exertion, Heat Related Illness