Physiological response to firefighting activities of various work cycles using extended duration and prototype SCBA

Kesler, Richard M.; Ensari, Ipek; Bollaert, Rachel E.; Motl, Robert W.; Hsiao-Wecksler, Elizabeth T.; Rosengren, Karl S.; Fernhall, Bo; Smith, Denise L.; Horn, Gavin P.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/101928 Copy

Description

Title

Physiological response to firefighting activities of various work cycles using extended duration and prototype SCBA

Author(s)

• Kesler, Richard M.
• Ensari, Ipek
• Bollaert, Rachel E.
• Motl, Robert W.
• Hsiao-Wecksler, Elizabeth T.
• Rosengren, Karl S.
• Fernhall, Bo
• Smith, Denise L.
• Horn, Gavin P.

Issue Date

2017-08-29

Keyword(s)

• Firefighters
• Life safety
• Firefighting research
• Personal protective equipment
• Body temperature
• SCBA
• Heart

Abstract

Firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) protects the respiratory system during firefighting but increases the physiological burden. Extended duration SCBA (>30 min) have increased air supply, potentially increasing the duration of firefighting work cycles. To examine the effects of SCBA configuration and work cycle (length and rest), 30 firefighters completed seven trials using different SCBA and one or two bouts of simulated firefighting following work cycles common in the United States. Heart rate, core temperature, oxygen consumption, work output and self-reported perceptions were recorded during all activities. Varying SCBA resulted in few differences in these parameters. However, during a second bout, work output significantly declined while heart rates and core temperatures were elevated relative to a single bout. Thirty seven per cent of the subjects were unable to complete the second bout in at least one of the two-bout conditions. These firefighters had lower fitness and higher body mass than those who completed all assigned tasks. Practitioner Summary: The effects of extended duration SCBA and work/rest cycles on physiological parameters and work output have not been examined. Cylinder size had minimal effects, but extended work cycles with no rest resulted in increased physiological strain and decreased work output. This effect was more pronounced in firefighters with lower fitness.

Publisher

Ergonomics

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101928

DOI

10.1080/00140139.2017.1360519

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

This work was supported by the Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety, Federal Emergency Management Agency [grant number EMW-2010-FP-01606].

Copyright and License Information

• Copyright 2017 The Author(s).
• This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-ncnd/ 4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

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