BY Robert C. Owens Sr.
Heart disease is not only the number one killer of firefighters; it is the number one killer of humans. Firefighters present unique challenges because of their exposure to smoke particulates, stress, sleep deprivation, personal protective equipment (PPE), and the environment in which we perform our duties. In the case of the firefighter cardiac arrest, we must adjust our everyday tactics and treatment to provide an avenue for the most successful outcome.
All emergency service providers and even some citizens are familiar with the American Heart Association (AHA) Chain of Survival.
The chain of survival works very well for the everyday citizen cardiac arrest. With a little adaptation, it can work well for the firefighter cardiac arrest. Let’s examine the links in the chain.
Early Access: It is imperative that if a firefighter goes into cardiac arrest that treatment teams get to them rapidly. This starts before the alarm by having adequate resources on the initial alarm assignment to properly staff rapid intervention companies (RICs) and emergency medical services (EMS) functions. In the event of a Mayday, RICs must rapidly deploy, access, and remove the down firefighter to the exterior of the fire building and turn the firefighter over to a dedicated EMS crew for treatment. If the event occurs on the exterior, rapid deployment of EMS resources needs to be the priority. In the case of limited EMS resources, RICs can deploy to that location and begin treatment. Mutual aid should also be considered to properly staff critical fireground components.
Early CPR: Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is imperative in any cardiac arrest. Hard and fast compressions, with little to no pausing, are a key link in the chain to obtain the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). AHA statistics also indicate the quality of CPR is directly related to the percentage of ROSC and successful discharge from medical facilities after cardiac arrest.1
However, the obstacle for the firefighter is the PPE in which we often perform our tasks. Rapid removal of gear must take place. Initial RICs can initiate hands-only CPR while EMS resources are being deployed and the remainder of PPE is being removed. Caution is to be taken with removal of PPE, as it may be super heated and could cause burn injuries to unprotected hands of EMS providers. Structural firefighting gloves are recommended for removing PPE.
Early Defibrillation: Defibrillation is a crucial component to correct dangerous arrhythmias or electrical activity in the heart. At minimum, EMS resources need rapid access to an automated external defibrillator (AED). If possible, this should become a part of the rapid intervention tool complement and a minimum equipment list for all apparatus to make them readily available and replaceable if one is deployed.2
Early Advanced Care: Advanced care and post-arrest care are the final pivotal links to surviving the firefighter cardiac arrest. This again can be put into place prior to the incident by ensuring that advanced care can be provided to victims of cardiac arrest on scene. Add additional units to alarm assignments, formulate mutual- aid agreements, speak with local hospitals about deployment of medical teams to major events–whatever it takes to get advanced care to cardiac arrest victims. If ROSC is established, post-resuscitative care by advanced care providers is even more critical to prevent re-arrest. Once the event occurs, resources need to be able to rapidly deploy and exit the scene to an appropriate medical facility.
Using this Firefighter Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival can provide a guide on how to treat the on-scene firefighter cardiac arrest. It is important to address resource needs with all response partners that could be involved with treatment and transport of the firefighter patient. As with any skill set, training must take place to ensure success. The firefighter cardiac arrest is a very real thing; this event is becoming a “when” it is going to happen, not an “if.”. We owe it to our brother and sister firefighters, as well as their families, to be ready to take care of them as well as we take care of the citizens we serve. Will you be ready?
BIO
Robert C. Owens Sr. is a lieutenant/NREMT-I with the Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire. He began his fire service career with the Mechanicsville (VA)Volunteer Fire Department. He previously served as a career firefighter in Stafford County, Virginia. He is a certified Instructor 2 and Fire Officer level 4 by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and a Mass Casualty Incident Management Instructor for the Virginia Office of EMS He has a BS in fire science from Columbia Southern University. He has presented programs at FDIC and runs the fire service blog www.averagejakefirefighter.com
References
1. Sunde, K. (2013, June 25). Wake up, CPR providers: High-quality CPR is wanted and needed! Accessed October 15, 2014, from http://my.americanheart.org/professional/ScienceNews/Wake-up-CPR-providers-High-quality-CPR-is-wanted-and-needed_UCM_452907_Article.jsp.
2. American Heart Association. (2012, Feb. 21). Defibrillation. Accessed October 15, 2014, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Defibrillation_UCM_305002_Article.jsp.
