Safety Spotlight: Oconee County

November 6, 2024

The Health & Safety Committee is excited to highlight Oconee County Emergency Services' Rescue 1 and their Rehab Trailer for the November Safety Spotlight.

Along with running medical calls, Rescue 1 maintains and responds this unit. The Rehab Trailer is an enclosed trailer that is dispatched as Automatic Aid with eight county fire departments on structure fires. The primary purpose of this resource is to provide firefighter rehabilitation during a structure fire, but it has been used during extended search and rescue operations as well. It can also be requested by any agency in the county and any department out of county that has mutual aid agreements.

Rescue 1 personnel keep the trailer equipped and supplied with items needed to offset the extreme heat conditions and to provide warmth when needed. The trailer is equipped with cooling vests, water, hydration pops, ice, basic medical supplies, pop-up tents, tables, blankets, clothing, heaters, coffee makers, toys for kids, snack foods, and will soon be equipped with griddles and other food prep equipment for extended incidents.

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1584 standard requires firefighters to be rehabbing during and after emergency operations and training exercises. Rehab is a necessary period for firefighters to rest, cool off, and recharge. It's important for firefighters to be able to replenish their bodies so they can be effective team members. Rehab is an important and necessary function to keep our responders healthy and safe.

Way to go, Oconee County Rescue 1!