A Santa Cruz County firefighter recruit died last year while participating in a training exercise.
Despite resuscitative efforts by staff at the Ben Lomond Training Center, Recruit Firefighter Daniel Lamothe, 38, died.
On Feb. 19, Lamonthe was in his seventh week of a 19-week academy engaged in firefighter safety and survival training when he collapsed, according to a NIOSH report released Friday.
"The Recruit told the instructors he was “freaking” because he was having difficulty finding the way out. The instructors reassured him he was ok and told him to relax and breathe as they helped him find the opening to the bottom level and exit. With the assistance of the instructors, the Recruit was in a sitting position with his legs in the opening to the first level, he lowered his SCBA in front of him and proceeded through the opening towards the maze exit. However, as he transitioned through the opening, he became unresponsive and slumped to the ground on the first level," inviestigators wrote.
NIOSH investigators made several recommendations to reduce the risk of sudden death among firefighters training at this, and other fire departments across the country.
- Key Recommendation #1: Implement a systematic risk assessment for training programs in accordance with NFPA standards.
- Key Recommendation #2: Implement procedures for safe exit in accordance with NFPA 1500 Standards as the 3rd story maze’s sole access by exterior ladder did not allow for rapid evacuation in a medical emergency situation.
- Key Recommendation #3: Consider implementing physiological monitoring system to protect firefighter health.
- Key Recommendation #4: Fire training facilities shall appoint a safety officer to review the planned exercises and actively observe all training activities in accordance with NFPA Standards.
