Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Heat Production Storage Estimates of Tactical Law Enforcement Personnel during Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Training

Abstract

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited The study's purpose was to estimate energy expended and metabolic heat produced during tactical law enforcement CBRN training operations. These values will be used to establish a work standard for when encapsulated in PPE during CBRN missions or training. Knowledge of work standards can then be used for mission planning purposes (e.g., establishing work/rest cycles) or to estimate the cooling requirements needed to allow safe operations while wearing CBRN-PPE. Male tactical law enforcement officers (n = 48, age: 40.9 + 6.5 yrs, wt: 88.6 + 12.0 kg, ht: 179 + 6.8 cm; mean + standard deviation) participating in typical CBRN training exercises with PPE served as volunteers. Tactical law enforcement officers expended approximately 475 + 142 kcal during their ~2 hour training exercise. Estimated 24-hour daily EE was ~2420 kcal. Average rate of heat produced over the entire exercise (1 kcal/hr = 1.163 W) was 213 + 31 W. Peak metabolic heat production for activities lasting about a minute was estimated at 668 + 124 W. Tactical law enforcement, CBRN, chemical, biological protection, core temperature, simulation, thermo-physiology, protective equipment, thermal strain, heat illness Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified 37

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“…The average daily EE was 2,739.58 ± 100.82 kcal, compared to the EE of members of the American army at CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) training -2,420 kcal (Goetz et al, 2011), the EE of a fire brigade -2,585 ± 406 kcal (Heil, 2002), the EE of Malaysian soldiers -2,886 kcal (Ismail et al, 1996) or the EE of the American special operation forces -3,903.8 kcal (Margolis et al, 2014). If soldiers perform an activity with an energy expenditure higher than that accounted for in the individual diet doses, they are entitled to food allowances.…”

Thermal-work strain in law enforcement personnel during chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) training

“…A value of six represents moderate thermal discomfort. One individual was treated for heat exhaustion during the training in Florida 25. Study participants self-reported feeling hot in PPE-CBRN gear when engaged in vigorous activities such as carrying and evacuating an 86 kg person (∼45 m distance), running, and/or climbing stairs (∼1–3 minutes in duration).…”

“…One individual was treated for heat exhaustion during the training in Florida. 25 Study participants self-reported feeling hot in PPE-CBRN gear when engaged in vigorous activities such as carrying and evacuating an 86 kg person (∼45 m distance), running, and/or climbing stairs (∼1–3 minutes in duration). The cool environmental conditions in the Massachusetts training reduced thermal-work strain of the law enforcement personnel, allowing them to work for more than 45 consecutive minutes.…”

Monitoring of Physical Activity of Soldiers of the Army of the Czech Republic

“…The average value of the overall energy output per 24 hours has been 2654.59 kcal. This can be compared for example with Bunc (1990) who is recommending a value of 2200 kcal/day for physical fitness sustainment and a minimum value of 2600 kcal/day for physical fitness improvement or to members of the American army at CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) training -2420 kcal (Goetz et al, 2011), members of fire brigade -2585 ± 406 kcal (Heil, 2002), Malaysian soldiers -2886 kcal (Ismail et al, 1996) or the American special operation forces -3903.8 kcal (Margolis et al, 2014).…”