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Connecticut first responders battle the week-long heat wave

Heavy equipment and clothing first responders use makes working during the heat wave enough tougher for firefighters and EMS personnel.

SIMSBURY, Conn. — The heat wave hitting Connecticut is making it even more difficult for first responders to stay safe while responding to calls.

As temperatures linger in the 90s with high humidity, adding pounds of emergency personnel equipment makes beating the heat more of a challenge.

"Certainly this is not the type of weather that we want to have to go out and deal with any kind of emergency call especially fires," Chief Jim Baldis with the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company said. 

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Firefighters wear 75 pounds of equipment from hats to fire coats and pants to breathing apparatus'. The chief says it's harder to sweat wearing all of that in the hot weather.

At Aetna Ambulance in Hartford, while the physical weight may be less than that of a firefighter, the weight they carry is just as demanding. 

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Crews with Aetna Ambulance in Hartford have to carry heavy equipment and climb stairs, making it even tougher on the body during the heat wave.

"We now have to carry the patients out of the home," Operations Manager Bob Mara said. "If we have to stair chair someone from a third-floor apartment, not air-conditioned down the stairway that’s a really grueling event." 

Mara says these first responders need to stay safe and healthy so the community can too. If they are taken by the heat, that impacts their ability to serve their neighbors. 

RELATED: New Haven's older residents keep cool at senior center as temperatures rise

There is some heavy equipment they use like stretchers which weigh over a hundred pounds.

The challenge for them is trying to not overheat while working in the sun. At Aetna Ambulance, they work 12 hours shifts and often respond to calls that require them to work in direct sunlight. Mara said they have not seen an increase in heat-related calls so far but says the phones will start ringing.

"It’s a lot of the elderly," he said. "A lot of the elderly we worry about because they’re in their apartments, a lot of these apartments don’t have air conditioning. They’re able to compensate for a couple of days."

He reminds people to check in on elderly folks and call 211 if trying to find a local space to cool off.

Getting tired quicker because of the weather means they may need more people to respond to a call.

"We anticipate the need for more so if we do have to call for more resources whether it’s in town or even from mutual aid companies from our surrounding neighbors," Chief Baldis said.

The chief says electrical fires can happen more often in this type of weather as people run air conditioners and fans. Also, car accidents because people may be tired from the heat. He said hydration is important for firefighters so they can respond to help.

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"Fire gear, if you will, is breathable to the fact that it helps to release some of that pent-up hot air that’s inside but it doesn’t release it all," he said. 

It's important for crews to work fast so they can get the gear off and start to cool down. In Simsbury, recovery is important in fire service during heat waves. He said heat stress and exhaustion are things they watch out for.

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The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company encourages firefighters to stay hydrated so they can safely respond to calls.

"They go to a rehab center where they’re given, again, the fresh water, a light something to eat, if you will, and try to get their body back to cool down," he said.

Tony Black is a multi-media journalist at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tblack@fox61.com. Follow him on FacebookTwitter and Instagram

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