About the Fire Corps
Fire Corps is a component of the Village’s Citizen Corps Council and functions as an operational team within the Fire Department. Fire Corps members are volunteers tasked with the responsibility of providing on-scene emergency rehab for firefighters. The team serves Hanover Park Fire Department and is an active part of the MABAS response system.
History of the Fire Corps
An average of 100 U.S. firefighters die annually in the line of duty. 45% to 50% of these deaths are due to cardiac related events that are triggered by heat stress associated with fire suppression and the utilization of chemical protective suits. The heat stress impacting firefighters causes massive dehydration, substantially elevated core body temperatures, reductions in cardiac output and changes in the body’s electrolytes and chemical processes.
The detrimental effects of heat stress can be minimized through on-scene rehabilitation that focuses on core body temperature cooling, rehydration, medical monitoring, rest and calorie replacement.
The United States Fire Administration has established a goal of reducing firefighter line of duty deaths by 25 percent by the year 2010 and 50 percent by 2015. Actions taken to reduce line of duty deaths will also reduce firefighter injuries and illnesses. These preventative actions lessen the impact on firefighters, their families, their departments and communities as well as reduce the costs associated with workers compensation, disability pensions, and survivor/dependent benefits.
Rehab Training Program
In an effort to assist the Fire Department, the Hanover Park Citizen’s Emergency Response Team (CERT) agreed to begin providing on-scene firefighter rehabilitation. CERT members underwent an intensive 24-hour University of Illinois Fire Service Institute training program focused on:
- The physical and physiological stress of firefighting.
- Working with the Fire Service.
- Techniques for implementing effective on-scene rehabilitation.
- Firefighter protective equipment.
- Experiencing heat stress from the firefighter's perspective
CERT (now called Fire Corps) members who completed the training, staff a Fire Department Rehab Vehicle and respond to major incidents to assist the department. Fire Corps members completing the training also have a better understanding of the fire ground, how to interact with firefighters, and practical methods of rehabilitation.
