TN 104.1.8- Rehab

Introduction to Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation is a vital component of the Incident Management System, allowing firefighters to work within safe limits for longer periods.
• Rehabilitation helps to reduce the risks of injury to personnel.

Goals and Objectives of Rehabilitation

• The goal of rehabilitation is to return a person's body to a normal state, enabling them to continue working safely.
• Rehabilitation provides physical and psychological rest from the stresses of operating at an emergency incident.

Application of Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation is applied to emergency scenes and training evolutions for both operational and support staff.
• The Incident Commander (IC) determines the level of rehabilitation management required using the Commanders Guide for Continuous Work Times for Firefighters (Circular Slide Rule).

Rehabilitation Sector

• A Rehabilitation Sector is a Command function, where crews are assigned in and out of Rehab by Sector Officers and/or the IC.
• Personnel do not assign themselves to the Rehab sector.
• On entry to the Sector, Firefighters must PIT IN with the rehab officer, and the Rehab Sector Officer records their time into the Rehab Sector.

Responsibilities of the Incident Commander

• The IC determines when personnel can return to task level activities.
• The IC determines when a Rehabilitation Sector must be established, based on incident conditions.

Establishing a Rehabilitation Sector

• A Rehabilitation Sector must be established when:
• Incident conditions dictate
• Second alarms that are expected to last 2 hours or more
• Third Alarm or greater response
• Incidents that continue longer than 30 minutes and the ambient temperature exceeds 26 degrees Celsius or is below -5 degrees Celsius.

Incident Rehabilitation Location

• The Rehabilitation Sector Officer determines the location and obtains resources to establish and manage a designated Rehabilitation area.
• Considerations for the location include:
• Size of Incident
• Incident duration
• Time of year
• Time of day
• Uphill, upwind, and outside of the controlled area
• Large enough for the number of personnel expected
• Away from vehicle exhausts and noise
• Protection from environmental extremes
• Ground conditions
• Access to and from the Staging area
• Access for Box 12 and Support 7
• Access for TORONTO PARAMEDIC SERVICES
• Restroom facilities (TFS rehab unit)

Equipment for Incident Rehabilitation Area

• Equipment that can be utilized in Rehab includes:
• Cooling Chairs
• Misting equipment
• Scene marking tape and Pylon cones
• Water jugs and drinking cups
• Anti-Bacterial, waterless hand wash
• Rehab Kit from Command vehicle
• Kore Kooling Chair
• Rehab Status Sheets

Rehab Sector Officer Responsibilities and Duties

• The Rehab Sector Officer is responsible for:

• Selecting a site for the rehabilitation of firefighting personnel

• Obtaining personnel and resources necessary to establish and manage a rehabilitation area

• Ensuring firefighters have performed sufficient Decontamination procedures before entry into Rehab Sector

• Informing Command and Toronto Fire of Rehab Sector location

• Coordinating operations with Toronto Paramedic Services and canteen vehicle(s)

• Maintaining a Rehab Status Sheet

• Maintaining communications and updating the IC regarding the availability of personnel who have completed rehabilitation.

• • Informing personnel who have been reassigned where and whom to report

  • Providing PAR information

  • Referring to Toronto Paramedic Services any personnel who are symptomatic of any illness or injury

  • Establishing time the fire fighters must remain in Rehab, according to the Circular Slide Rule