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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?

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.

References:

Category
Firefighter Health and First Aid

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NEW! NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

Date:  July 9, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG Staff

NWCG is excited to announce the publication of the NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900.

The new publication establishes general, consistent, and uniform standards for conducting business with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

References:

NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

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Date:  July 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Development Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Fourth Quarter materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

Quarter Four materials focus on Leadership Level 4: Leader of Leaders (Provide Direction). Leadership Level 4 is where you are setting the conditions for others to do things well, even when you are not present. This quarter focuses on equipping experienced leaders with skills to provide direction, build trust across teams, and foster strong decision making. 

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

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Date:  June 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2026 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on past incidents from 2016 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2026 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

RMC Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNetX Launch

Date:  June 25, 2026
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Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is pleased to announce the launch of SafeNetX, the modernized safety reporting system now available to the wildland fire community. Effective June 15, 2026, SafeNetX enables reporting of unsafe, unhealthy, near-miss, and high-risk operations across wildland fire, all-hazard incidents, training, and related work environments.

SafeNetX is the result of a multi-agency modernization effort led by RMC, which began evaluating improvements to the legacy SAFENET system in 2021. To learn more, read the full RMC memorandum in the links provided.

References:

SafeNetX

RMC Safety Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNet X Launch