Physiological responses to simulated firefighter exercise protocols in varying environments

• Published in: Ergonomics Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 1012 - 1021
• Main Authors: Horn, Gavin P., Kesler, Richard M., Motl, Robert W., Hsiao-Wecksler, Elizabeth T., Klaren, Rachel E., Ensari, Ipek, Petrucci, Matthew N., Fernhall, Bo, Rosengren, Karl S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.06.2015; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adult; Biomechanics; Body Temperature; Chambers; Construction; core temperature; Exercise Test; Female; Firefighters; firefighting; Fires; Heart Rate; heat stress; Hot Temperature; Humans; Humidity; Laboratories; Male; Personal protective equipment; Physical Exertion; Physiological responses; Physiology; Protective Clothing; Protocol; Simulation; Simulation Training; Space life sciences; Temperature; test protocol; Treadmills; Young Adult; core temperature; heat stress; heart rate; firefighting; test protocol
• ISSN: 0014-0139; 1366-5847
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2014.997806

For decades, research to quantify the effects of firefighting activities and personal protective equipment on physiology and biomechanics has been conducted in a variety of testing environments. It is unknown if these different environments provide similar information and comparable responses. A novel Firefighting Activities Station, which simulates four common fireground tasks, is presented for use with an environmental chamber in a controlled laboratory setting. Nineteen firefighters completed three different exercise protocols following common research practices. Simulated firefighting activities conducted in an environmental chamber or live-fire structures elicited similar physiological responses (max heart rate: 190.1 vs 188.0 bpm, core temperature response: 0.047°C/min vs 0.043°C/min) and accelerometry counts. However, the response to a treadmill protocol commonly used in laboratory settings resulted in significantly lower heart rate (178.4 vs 188.0 bpm), core temperature response (0.037°C/min vs 0.043°C/min) and physical activity counts compared with firefighting activities in the burn building. Practitioner Summary: We introduce a new approach for simulating realistic firefighting activities in a controlled laboratory environment for ergonomics assessment of fire service equipment and personnel. Physiological responses to this proposed protocol more closely replicate those from live-fire activities than a traditional treadmill protocol and are simple to replicate and standardise.