SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- With feels like temperatures over 100 degrees, it is important to keep cool to avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion. First responders like firefighters may be used to high temperatures when responding to fires, but when it comes to the weather, they must take extra steps to ensure they are staying safe and healthy.
ABC57's Sidney Moore spoke with Andrew Meyer, Assistant Chief EMS Division in South Bend on what steps these first responders take. He says, "We do police our firefighters at these high acuity scenes, where they're working hard. We have a rehab policy. Firefighters are only doing about 40 minutes of actual really hard work, before they have to go into a rehab area. They're assessed, and then they're released after 20 minutes of rest."
Vitals and tests are done in a cooler area and then after resting, firefighters will go through a series of tests again before being released from the rehab.
Meyer says one important thing not only for firefighters but just the general public is to stay hydrated and start drinking water the day before you go out and spend time outdoors.