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How hot is too hot for outdoor drills?

Recently my department aquired a building to drill on. Unfortunatly we aquired it during some of the hottest days of the 2010 summer and the days were limited for training. The drill chosen was roof ventilation. So the question is; Is it acceptable to drill outdoors on days when the heat index meets or exceeds temps of 85 degrees or greater? (just to put a number on it) And yes I know we fight fires in the heat, the difference is we can't control fires but we can control drills.

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Permalink Reply by Mike France on September 7, 2010 at 8:55pm

We look at Temp/ humidity as factors and try to plan accordingly, Weather is un predictable always have a backup drill ready

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Permalink Reply by Justin Lewis on September 8, 2010 at 4:44pm

living in AZ where it is over 100 degrees daily in the summer we only had one day where they told us NOT to drill...but you also have to use common sense here...which unfortunately is the least common thing...I see crews drilling for hours in the heat in the middle of the day...I can't help but think "how good are they going to be to us if we catch a house fire right now?"

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on September 9, 2010 at 11:52am

-We use a matrix which indicates that the higher the ambient temperature above 80 degrees the less time recruits are outside training in bunker gear. Over 95 degrees and there is no outside drilling in bunker gear. Fortunately we have an indoor training facility that will accommodate limited indoor training.
-Hydration is also crucial. Recruits are required to wear Camelbacks during PT. During regular training recruits have water jugs that must be consumed throughout the day.
-Given recent events of recruits being injured across the country our Academy staff has become increasingly concerned about monitoring the health of recruits.

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