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Hydration

Dehydration can occur due to a variety of reasons such as vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, and and even some medications. For Wildland Firefighters sweating is the primary way the body regulates its temperature. Maintaining body fluids is essential for sweating. You must hydrate before, during, and after work.

  • Studies conducted on wildland firefighters indicate that during fire suppression activities firefighters need to drink a minimum of one quart of fluid each hour of work.
  • Before work, you should consume extra fluids to prepare for the heat. Drink one or two cups of water, juice, or a sports drink before work.
  • While working, drink at least one quart of fluid per hour. Drink as much as you can during the lunch break. Water is your greatest need during work in the heat.
  • Hyponatremia (abnormally low concentration of sodium in the blood) as a result of excessive water intake is a potentially life-threatening complication. It can be prevented when hydration is enhanced by electrolytes, through fluids, or food containing sodium and potassium.
  • After work, it is important to continue drinking to replace fluid losses. Thirst always underestimates fluid needs, so you should drink more than you think you need.
  • Unacclimatized workers lose more salt in the heat, so they need to pay particular attention to salt replacement.
  • Don’t overdo salt intake. Excessive salt can impair temperature regulation and cause stomach distress, fatigue, and other problems.
  • You can assess your hydration by observing the volume, color, and concentration of your urine. Low volumes of dark, concentrated urine, or painful urination indicate a serious need for rehydration. Other signs of dehydration include a rapid heart rate, weakness, excessive fatigue, and dizziness.
  • Rapid loss of several pounds of body weight is a certain sign of dehydration. Rehydrate before returning to work. Working in a dehydrated state can lead to serious consequences, including heat stroke, muscle breakdown, and kidney failure.

Discussion Questions:

  • What are you doing right now to ensure that you are hydrated?

References:

Category
Firefighter Health and First Aid

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

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

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References:

NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

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References:

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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:

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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