Rehabilitation unit

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of fire service equipment. In particular, to a rehabilitation unit.

BACKGROUND

A rehabilitation protocol is part of the standard operating procedures for many fire services. The rehabilitation protocol typically provides for firefighters involved in operations at an incident scene to be rotated through a rehabilitation area based on criteria such as, for example, a “two-cylinder rule” wherein a firefighter is required to attend the rehabilitation area after a second air cylinder has been exhausted. The reasons for attending the rehabilitation area include controlling the pace of physical activity (by providing rest periods), avoiding prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures, re-hydration and medical evaluation.

The rehabilitation area is located outside of the fire zone and away from the exhaust fumes where protective clothing and equipment can be safely removed. Typically, the rehabilitation area includes supplies of water (or other liquids) and full air cylinders. The rehabilitation area can also provide shelter from precipitation, wind and sun. While in the rehabilitation area firefighters can be evaluated by paramedical staff and receive minor treatment if required.

Typical rehabilitation areas can take many forms depending on the size and severity of incident and on the scope and duration of operations. In one example, the rehabilitation area can be a tarp that is laid out on the ground or indoors to delineate the area in which the firefighters can rest, cool down, re-hydrate and replenish and in which they can lay-out their equipment and change their air cylinders. In some cases the rehabilitation area can be an ad hoc area in the vicinity of the firefighting equipment (i.e. vehicles) in which the firefighters congregate during rehabilitation. In these examples the rehabilitation area offers little in the way of amenities to facilitate the rehabilitation process with firefighters sitting on the ground or on vehicle bumpers and simply laying out their equipment on the ground or hanging it from whatever perch is available.

In a more elaborate, and less common, form the rehabilitation area can comprise a mobile rehabilitation vehicle specifically equipped for the rehabilitation function. Such vehicles are not commonly used as they are beyond the budgets of many fire services and even where they do exist, would typically only be deployed to incidents of a magnitude that warrants the logistic necessary for establishing a vehicle based rehabilitation area on scene.

What is needed is a relatively low cost, easy to deploy system that provides amenities that facilitates the rehabilitation of firefighters attending an incident scene.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A rehabilitation unit for providing rehabilitation support to a plurality of firefighters attending an incident scene. The rehabilitation unit comprising a transportable self-supporting frame that can be configured for use in a designated rehabilitation area on scene and a plurality of firefighter stations attached to the frame. Each firefighter station comprising a seating surface, a breathing apparatus holder and a protective equipment holder.

The rehabilitation unit can be quickly, easily and efficiently established when a rehabilitation area is needed. The rehabilitation unit can be set-up outdoors (e.g. in a parking lot, driveway or lawn) or indoors (e.g. in a lobby, on an upper floor or in an industrial building). The rehabilitation unit can also be configured for ease of transportation to and from the incident scene by folding or storing various components of the rehabilitation unit.

The rehabilitation unit facilitates dressing down of firefighters attending the rehabilitation area and effective stowing (e.g. by hanging) of their protective equipment. The rehabilitation unit can contribute to the general organization of an incident scene by facilitating early identification and establishment of a rehabilitation area and by promoting the keeping together of fire crews during rehabilitation.

One exemplary embodiment can provide a rehabilitation unit for providing rehabilitation support to a plurality of firefighters comprising: a self-supporting frame; and a plurality of firefighter stations attached to the self-supporting frame each having: a seating surface; a breathing apparatus holder; and a protective equipment holder area; wherein use of one of the plurality of firefighter stations by one of the firefighters facilitates the rehabilitation of the firefighter.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art or science to which it pertains upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in conjunction with drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rehabilitation unit as it appears in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rehabilitation unit as it appears when configured for transportation.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a rehabilitation unit as it appears when configured for transportation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rehabilitation unit 100 as it appears in use. The rehabilitation unit 100 comprises a self-supporting frame 110 and three firefighter stations 120 attached to the frame 110. Each firefighter station 120 comprises a seating surface 122, a breathing apparatus holder 124 and a protective equipment holder 126.

The frame 110 comprises three support members 112 pivotally connected at one end such at they can form a tripod. The other ends of the support members 112 can be connected to each other using a chain, cable or similar mechanism to limit the spreading apart of support members 112 where they form the base of the tripod. Each of the firefighter stations 120 is attached to one of three support members 112. The support members 112 can, for example, be formed from tubular stock having a round, square, rectangular or other cross-sectional profile. Each support member can optionally be equipped with a leveling mechanism 114 such as, for example, a telescopic foot assembly for facilitating leveling of the rehabilitation unit 100 when it is deployed on an even surface. In an alternative embodiment the leveling mechanism 114 can comprise a screw and nut assembly or other similar mechanisms for changing the effective length of the support member. Each support member can optionally comprise a telescopic section 116 for facilitating transport of the rehabilitation unit 100 by allowing the support members 112 to be shortened when the system is configured for transportation. In a further alternate embodiment, the leveling mechanism 114 and the telescopic section 116 can be combined to facilitate both leveling and transportation of the rehabilitation unit 100.

The embodiment of the rehabilitation unit 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is adapted to concurrent use by a three-person fire crew. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the frame 110 can comprise three or more support members 112 that can form a self-supporting structure having correspondingly three or more firefighter stations 120, each attached to a support member 112, that can accommodate larger fire crews.

The seating surface 122 provides a place for the firefighter to sit while resting, cooling down, re-hydrating and replenishing. The seating surface 122 is preferably arranged in the firefighter station to provide easy access by the firefighter and also to allow a para-medical staff member to easily interact with the seated firefighter during a medical evaluation. The seating surface 122 can be foldable or storable in order to facilitate transportation and storage of the rehabilitation unit 100. Optionally the seating surface 122 can include a pair of armrests 128 positioned on opposite sides of the seating surface 122. The armrests 128 can be foldable or storable in order to facilitate transportation and storage of the rehabilitation unit 100.

The breathing apparatus holder 124 provides for the breathing apparatus to be held in place so that if is easily accessible by the firefighter or other support personnel while also not obstructing access to the firefighter station or presenting a trip hazard to personnel moving in the vicinity of the rehabilitation area. The breathing apparatus holder 124 can be adapted to holding commonly used breathing apparatus such as, for example, air bottles and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The breathing apparatus holder 124 can be used to hold either a spent breathing apparatus or a fresh replacement breathing apparatus. The breathing apparatus holder 124 can be foldable or storable in order to facilitate transportation and storage of the rehabilitation unit 100.

The protective equipment holder 126 provides for supporting the firefighter's protective equipment off of the ground and keeping them organized. The protective equipment can include, for example, a jacket, a helmet, gloves, a flashlight and tools. The protective equipment holder 126 can keep these items organized so they are easily located, keeps them off of the ground so that they do not present a trip hazard, so that they can more effectively dried if required, reduces the potential for damage to the equipment and also mitigates potential contamination and cross-contamination of the protective equipment. The protective equipment holder 126 can comprises, for example, a plurality of hooks or similar holding mechanisms that can be adapted to holding a range of protective equipment of various sizes, shapes and weights. The protective equipment holder 126 can optionally comprise a mesh, fabric or similar pliable surface 130, suspended between the support members 112, that is adapted to holding lightweight pieces of protective equipment such as gloves and balaclavas. The protective equipment holder 126 can be foldable or storable in order to facilitate transportation and storage of the rehabilitation unit 100.

In an alternative embodiment the firefighter stations 120 can each be optional equipped with a core-cooling device 132 for promoting rapid lowering of a firefighters core body temperature. The core-cooling device 132 can, for example, comprise a mechanism, such as a tray, incorporated into armrests 128 for holding a cooling source, such as an ice pack or a cold water bladder, for ease of contact with the each of the forearms of a firefighter seated on the seating surface 122.

The rehabilitation unit 100 can optionally include a crew identification sign 134 connected to the frame 110 to assist the fire crew and others in locating the rehabilitation area and in promoting general organization of the incident scene. The rehabilitation unit can also be optionally equipped with a lighting fixture 136 connected to the frame 110. The lighting fixture 136 can be used to assist in locating the rehabilitation area or to provide ambient lighting in the rehabilitation area.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a rehabilitation unit 100 as it appears when configured for transportation. The rehabilitation unit 100 can be configured for transportation by collapsing the tripod and bringing the support members 112 into close proximity where they can be secured. Support members 112 equipped with leveling mechanisms 114 or telescopic sections 116 can be shortened. Transportation can be further facilitated by folding or storing any of seating surfaces 122, armrests 128, breathing apparatus holders 124 and protective equipment holders 126 that can be so configured. When configured for transportation the rehabilitation unit 100 can be stored on a fire engine or similar vehicle for transportation to and from the incident scene.

The rehabilitation unit 100 as described above provides a relatively low cost, easy to deploy system that provides amenities that facilitates the rehabilitation of firefighters attending an incident scene. The rehabilitation unit 100 can also be used as a suit-up station, for example, in a staging area at a hazardous material incident scene.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous modifications and departures from the specific embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.