Pinellas County implemented a Major Incident Support Unit with its own super cooler to help first responders cool down when responding to calls.

According to News Channel 8, it’s like a walk-in freezer. It takes about 15 minutes for the cooling room to reach the temperature range between 40 and 50 degrees.

“They think, ‘Oh OK it’s a cold room,’ but they get inside and they don’t realize how good it actually feels and how quickly it actually works,” said Deputy Chief Mark Zipeto with Dunedin Fire Rescue.

Since firefighters’ core temperatures can often reach 104 degrees or higher, Zipeto says that the cooling room makes a difference in their health and longevity.

“Cardiovascular and respiratory are huge with heat,” Zipeto said. “The higher you raise your core temperature repeatedly over and over again, the more detrimental it is to your cardiovascular system.”

Other features of the unit include two bathrooms, a shower and a kitchenette. The cooling room is the first of its kind for the county and will travel with them on lengthy calls.

“We know it’s good for us, but we want to get back to what we were supposed to do so if we can do anything that speeds that up and keeps us safe at the same time that’s a huge benefit to everyone,” Dunedin Fire Rescue firefighter-paramedic Zachary Harner said.

The unit has already gotten use, being utilized when a gas leak put first responders in the heat for about five hours.