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SOG-140Fireground OperationsSOG

Rehabilitation

On-scene rest, rehydration, medical monitoring, and return-to-duty.

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This is a template. It is not your department's policy.

Tailboard templates are drafted as generic starting points aligned to national standards. They are nota substitute for your department's own review or for adoption through your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). For topics carrying significant exposure (use of force, medical scope, civil rights), route through qualified counsel before adoption.

Every placeholder marked [BRACKETED] must be completed before adoption. Every section must be reviewed against your department's staffing, apparatus, water supply, EMS scope, geography, and the specific laws of your state. What applies to a career department in a city may not apply to a volunteer department in a rural jurisdiction, and vice versa.

Standards, regulations, and best practices are updated regularly. Verify the current edition of every standard cited before adopting this document. Once adopted, this document becomes your department's responsibility — not Tailboard's.

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Number

SOG-140

Version

1.0

Last reviewed

2026-01-01

Next review

2027-01-01

Summary

This guideline establishes how [DEPARTMENT NAME] rehabilitates members on scene — hydration, cooling or warming, nutrition, rest, medical monitoring, and return-to-duty evaluation. Rehab exists because the physical and physiological strain of firefighting is the single largest contributor to cardiac and heat-related LODDs. Aligns with NFPA 1584.

Definitions

Rehab
A designated on-scene area and process for member recovery.
Rehab Officer
A member assigned by the IC to establish and operate the Rehab group.
Work Cycle
The period of active work by a crew between rehab cycles, typically measured by SCBA bottles used or time on task.

Purpose

To prevent injuries, reduce cardiac and heat stress events, and monitor the health of members performing sustained physical work in high-stress environments.

Scope

Applies to every member of [DEPARTMENT NAME] at any incident or training evolution where environmental conditions or physical exertion warrant rehabilitation, and to every working fire regardless of weather.

When Rehab is Established

  • At every working structure fire.
  • At any incident with an anticipated work cycle of 30 minutes or greater.
  • At any incident with environmental extremes: heat index above 90°F, wind chill below 10°F, or significant humidity.
  • At any incident involving hazardous materials or other high-stress exposures.
  • At training evolutions of equivalent intensity.
  • Any time the IC, Safety Officer, or a Company Officer believes conditions warrant.

Rehab Components

Location and Setup

  • Established near the incident but far enough to provide clean air, shade, and shelter from weather.
  • Accessible by EMS, apparatus, and additional resources.
  • Equipped with seating, hydration, cooling or warming as conditions require, and medical monitoring equipment.

Entry to Rehab

  • After two SCBA bottles (30-minute cylinders) of work, or one 60-minute cylinder, or 40 minutes of sustained exertion.
  • Any time the Company Officer or Rehab Officer determines a member needs rehab.
  • Self-request — any member may request rehab.

Rehab Activities

  • Remove SCBA and turnout coat; cool or warm as conditions require.
  • Rehydrate with water or electrolyte solution. Limit caffeine.
  • Rest — minimum 10 minutes, typically 20 minutes or two cylinder change periods.
  • Medical monitoring per NFPA 1584.
  • Eat simple calorie replenishment when appropriate.

Medical Monitoring

  • Vital signs: heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, temperature, and (where capability exists) carbon monoxide exposure reading.
  • Members with abnormal vitals are held in rehab for re-evaluation.
  • Criteria for transport: chest pain, shortness of breath unrelieved by rest, altered mental status, vital signs outside return-to-duty parameters on re-evaluation.
  • All medical monitoring is documented, even when normal.

Return to Duty

  1. Members return to duty only after documented medical monitoring meets department return-to-duty criteria.
  2. Members who do not meet return-to-duty criteria are held for further rest and reassessment, or referred to EMS for transport.
  3. Members are not authorized to self-clear from rehab.

Responsibilities

Incident Commander

  • Establish Rehab at the appropriate benchmark.
  • Assign a Rehab Officer.
  • Ensure medical capability (EMS) is present.
  • Rotate crews through rehab consistent with operational tempo.

Rehab Officer

  • Set up and operate the Rehab area.
  • Direct medical monitoring.
  • Maintain accountability while members are in Rehab.
  • Report holds, transports, and return-to-duty decisions to Command.

Company Officers

  • Rotate crews to Rehab per department standard.
  • Do not return a crew to duty without Rehab Officer clearance.

Members

  • Cooperate with rehab procedures and medical monitoring.
  • Self-report symptoms honestly.
  • Do not shortcut rehab to return to the fireground.

Training Requirements

  • All members: annual training on rehab procedures, physiological risk factors, and self-awareness of symptoms.
  • Rehab Officers: initial and annual training on NFPA 1584, medical monitoring, and Rehab area management.

References

  • NFPA 1584Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises
  • NFPA 1500Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program
  • IAFC Rehab GuidelinesEmergency Incident Rehabilitation Manual

Adapt this template

Before this template becomes your department's policy, review the following items and adjust accordingly. Anything else that does not match your operation should be updated as well.

  • Define your department's specific return-to-duty vital-sign parameters per NFPA 1584 and local medical direction.
  • Specify whether your department's Rehab is run by in-house EMS, by a mutual-aid ambulance service, or by a volunteer fire auxiliary.
  • Include your environmental-trigger table (heat index / wind chill) as a quick-reference appendix.

Adoption signature

Adopted by (Name, Rank)
Signature
Effective date
Next scheduled review

Before adoption checklist

  • ☐Replace [DEPARTMENT NAME] throughout the document.
  • ☐Complete every [BRACKETED] placeholder.
  • ☐Confirm the current edition of every cited standard.
  • ☐Check against your state statutes and state fire marshal rules.
  • ☐Route for chief review. Topics with significant exposure (use of force, medical scope) also go through qualified counsel.
  • ☐Confirm alignment with any mutual-aid agreements.
  • ☐Schedule a training plan for the new policy before effective date.
  • ☐Announce adoption in writing to all members. Archive the prior version.
  • ☐Set the next review date — annually at minimum.