Adrenaline & the Fire-Rescue Worker

 We've all seen evidence of it, and felt it, but do we understand it? It's powerful, it's Scary, but we can control it, and benefit from it.

Anyone who does public speaking will experience  the effects of Adrenaline, it's natural. If given time to properly prepare presentation material, and the room for the presentation, a speaker's extra adrenalin flow should not be noticeable.

Every time the alarm bell rings, or the pager goes off, extra adrenaline starts to flow in your blood stream to help your body cope with what it will have to do.

When your crew arrives on the scene to test your Extrication skills, Adrenaline will flow as fast as you've ever felt it.

Adrenalin is secreted from the adrenal glands which cover the kidneys. These glands produce an internal secretion of  hormones  essential to life.

One  hormone secreted is Epinephrine or Adrenaline which acts on all body structures as well as the autonomic systems. For example, it  increases heart rate, blood pressure, breathing , causes constriction of arteries, inhibition of gastrointestinal movements, relaxation of smooth muscles in bronchioles (in Lungs), dilation of the pupils of the eyes and liberation of glucose from the liver.

The Emergency theory or the  Fright, Fight, or Flight  theory was advanced by Dr. Cannon of Harvard University to explain the function of the adrenal glands. According to this theory the adrenal glands secrete very little adrenaline during ordinary activities , but under the influence of pain, fear, rage or asphyxia it secretes a larger amount of  this hormone which enters the blood stream and stimulates the body to meet either physical or mental emergencies.

It is a drug used as a heart stimulant  and  muscle relaxant.

Any shock or surprise can initiate an adrenaline rush.

(Expect it)

Use it to your benefit.

We must all be crazy , we run into burning buildings when even the cockroaches are running out. We routinely do abnormal things. We should expect that our bodies  won't understand.

Adrenaline Friend or Foe

The Fire-Rescue worker must learn to use Adrenaline to his or her benefit.

It will be present, and it can be an ally , but it can be an enemy.

We've all seen the fire fighter run up to the scene and start ripping things apart; this usually ends up badly.

Calm rational thinking is imperative to the successful completion of any task and even more so on the scene of an emergency where nothing is normal and many things can happen unpredictably. Remember all other people on the scene are fighting a rush of adrenaline, and their actions may be influenced by this as well.

Several things can be done to keep our adrenaline flow in check:

1. Volunteers, have your clothes ready by the bed at night.

2. Volunteers, put your gear on before arriving on scene (prepare so this is easy) Suspenders? Chin strap?

3. Walk don't run.

4. Take the time to think things out carefully (pre-plan/size-up )

5. Take mental notes of the whole scene (What else is going on besides your task? What are others doing? This can eliminate surprises.)

6. Officers be aware of  those having difficulty handling Adrenaline rushes and coach as required.

Our normal lives don't involve too many surprises and this allows us to normally function calmly, but a bunch of surprises thrown at us  all at once can throw our mental capabilities into turmoil.

Adrenaline flow will be increased in the most experienced Fire-Rescue worker, but it can be channeled to add physical and mental strength as required.

• Hauling hose

• Pumping hand operated hydraulic tools

• Lifting things (caution: within reason)

Remember Adrenaline is flowing in victims as well, so make sure they agree with and understand your actions.

e.g. Many drowning victims have grabbed onto a rescuer in a "death grip" that can actually drown the rescuer.

Don't go home and try to go to sleep right after a stressful situation. Critical Incident Stress debriefing can help (formal or informal).

Expect a wind down period as your body uses up the excess of adrenaline pumping through your system. Go have a coffee, talk about it, relax, as in a critical incident stress debriefing.

From a presentation by Alex MacDonald