Serious Injury Procedures

Dealing with serious injuries on the fireline can add even more stress to our hectic work environment. In the event a fireline accident occurs, adherence to the following principles is important to ensure an adequate and appropriate response is made.

Before entering the scene, determine whether it is safe to approach. Look for hazards as well as what may have happened. It may be necessary to move the patient or to make the area safe before doing an assessment.
Provide life- or limb-saving or sight-preserving first aid and assess the extent of the injuries.
Contact your supervisor. Depending on the complexity of the fire, that could be your Crew Boss, Division Supervisor, Incident Commander, or even dispatch. If your fire has a medical plan, follow the plan.
Provide accurate, concise information on the following:
- Number of people injured.
- Type of injuries.
- Severity of injuries (light, moderate, severe, life threatening).
- Mechanism of injury.
- Vital signs (pulse, respiration, level of consciousness, etc.).
Determine the best method of evacuation. Depending on the severity of injury or availability of resources, this decision may already be made for you.
Keep the radio frequency clear of non-emergency traffic. Provide updates of the patient's condition and await instructions.
If evacuation is by helicopter, it may be necessary to construct a helispot. Document treatment provided in case it is necessary to send the information along with the patient in the aircraft.
If the patient needs to be carried to a road, ensure enough people are available to work in relays.
Once the patient is clear, take a moment to write down a few thoughts to capture the circumstances of events, clean up notes and timelines, and document any other pertinent information.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL)

Date: October 16, 2024
Contact: Incident Medical Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39 and NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for MEDL includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book, were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Medical Unit Leader Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39

NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal is Now Available

Date: October 9, 2024
Contact: Wildland Fire Learning Portal

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) is back online following a migration to a new learning management system (LMS) application. The WFLP team is actively addressing any issues that may arise as a result of the update, and appreciates your patience as the team works to enhance your experience. NWCG will share information from the WFLP as it is available.

Should you have any issues with accessing or using the WFLP, please use the link below to submit a ticket through the Help Center.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Wildland Fire Learning Portal Help Center

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases New Equipment Bulletins

Date: September 27, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released three new Equipment Bulletins:

ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers.
ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories.
ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance.

These bulletins remind field going personnel of important issues related to equipment for wildland firefighting efforts.