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Concussion and Head Injuries

 

Being struck in the head is unfortunately common in the wildland environment. Snags, equipment, loose scree, and UTV use all abound in our environment. Hard hats and helmets are a must and provide a degree of protection. But what if your co-worker gets a hit to the head (with helmet on!) and stumbles to the ground?

Image
Twelve symptoms that could indicated concussion.

Consider the scenario:

Your crew is walking along a trail when a large tree branch falls and hits the head of a team member. They are knocked to the ground but do not appear unconscious. No other injuries are identified and after a few minutes they seem to be OK. With relief, you hike onwards. A few minutes later they ask, “Where are we?” and you answer. Again, after a couple minutes the same question—same answer. This happens several more times and pretty clearly, they are not able to process or retain the information. What’s going on? What should you do? 

A blow to the head–with or without loss of consciousness–which results in some impaired cognition is a concussion. Concussed individuals sometimes repeatedly ask the same question and can’t seem to process the answers. They may complain of headache, dizziness, nausea. More severe concussions can result in being off balance, vomiting and some degree of panic as they cannot understand what has happened no matter how much you explain.

Fortunately, thanks to mainly the field of Sports Medicine there are now standard approaches to patients with concussions, as well as clear guidelines.

Follow the three 6 Rs: recognize, report, and recover.

Or even better are the 6 R’s:

  • Recognize. Learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion.
  • Remove. If an individual has a concussion or even a suspected concussion, they must be removed from duty immediately.
  • Refer. Seek medical attention.
  • Rest. A minimum of 24 hours for mild symptoms – 72 is better.
  • Recover. And then begin a gradual process of low levels of physical and mental activities over the next 7-14 days.
  • Return. If all symptoms have resolved and you are cleared to do so by a medical provider.

Allowing a person with a concussion to continue on duty is not only detrimental to their recovery but could put the entire crew in jeopardy if quick thinking or movement is required.

 

Category
Firefighter Health & First Aid
References
NWCG Emergency Medical Committee
AANS, Concussion – Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Safety Guidelines
IRPG, PMS 461 – Emergency Medical Care (red pages)

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ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page. 
If your question is not answered there, you can 
submit your question using our Contact Us form. 
 

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

Date: June 3, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Emergency Medical Committee

The Emergency Medical Committee has issued interim guidance for Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) teams. Until further notice, Type I and II REMS teams must designate a team leader qualified at Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1) or higher. This temporary change replaces the Single Resource Boss (SRB) requirement, which is currently not feasible due to administrative barriers.

This memorandum does not include any other changes to the NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552. This interim change takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

References:

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

Equipment Bulletin 25-002: Chaps, Chain Saw, M-2020, Nonconformities Affecting Use, Appearance, and Serviceability

Date: June 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 to address a manufacturing nonconformity affecting Forest Service specification, 6170-4K Chain Saw Chaps. The issue applies to chaps manufactured in 2024 and 2025 and distributed through FedMall. These chaps may have incorrectly bound edges that expose inner protective layers.

Independent purchasers should inspect all chain saw chaps received from FedMall beginning in 2024, prior to use. Review the full Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 for inspection criteria and recommended actions.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-002