Make wishtv.com your home page

Firefighters face challenges while working in extreme temps

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The freezing temperatures can be challenging for anyone who have to work outside in the elements, like firefighters and emergency responders.

For firefighters at Wayne Fire Station Number 84, it’s just any other day on the job.

“We’re here 24/7, 365 days out of the year,” said Lt. Bradford Moulton, Wayne Township Fire Department. “So it doesn’t matter whether we’re dealing with severe storms or thunderstorms, cold temperatures, extreme hot temperatures, rain, we’re always available.”

Moulton has been with the department for about 13 years. He said he’s physically ready to go during the winter months, but sometimes his body may not be. On top of wearing layers, he’s also adding up to 65 pounds of gear.

“Our bodies are insulated. We’re kind of encapsulated within our fire gear,” said Moulton. “So we still have those stresses on our bodies whether it’s zero degrees outside or whether it’s 90 degrees outside.”

But Moulton admits the winter months can be challenging at times with the fire hoses and hydrants freezing and their uniforms getting stuck.

“If our fire gear gets wet in this type of temperature when it’s this cold it doesn’t take long to freeze at all so we could actually get frozen into our gear in just a matter of a few minutes,” said Moulton.

And if you have to work in the cold remember to cover up and bundle up.

Doctors at Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital said exposing your skin in extreme cold could even lead to frostbite.

“Anytime the temperature is cold, the tips of your fingers, tip of your nose, tip of ears and toes can become so cold that they do not get the proper blood supply and the tissues can actually start to die,” said Dr. Matt Connelly, who works in the emergency room at Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital.

Dr. Connelly said if you start to feel numbness, pain or any sort of discoloration seek medical attention right away.