Greater physical fitness is associated with better air ventilation efficiency in firefighters

Gendron, Philippe; Freiberger, Eduardo; Laurencelle, Louis; Trudeau, François; Lajoie, Claude

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2014.10.002

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Particularly among firefighters, regular exercise (resistance and aerobic) is extremely important and is associated with many positive health outcomes, including improved aerobic capacity, lower body fat, and increased strength, endurance, and power [4]. Furthermore, firefighters' higher exercise levels were associated with lower cardiovascular-disease risk factors [5,6], while exercise contributes to better respiratory performance [7] and improved endurance when wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) [8]. In addition, the fittest firefighters had the lowest risk of on-duty injuries [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise and Occupational Stress among Firefighters

Soteriades

Vogazianos

Tozzi³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential association between physical activity and occupational stress among firefighters. Data were collected from Cypriot firefighters through a web-based battery of internationally validated questionnaires completed anonymously (COPSOQ, DASS). A total of 430 firefighters (response rate 68%) completed the survey (age range: 21–60 years). More than half of the firefighters (54%) reported either no or minimal physical activity. A total of 11% of firefighters reported moderate to extremely severe stress based on the DASS-S scale. Using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, we showed that firefighters who exercised had 50% lower risk of occupational stress, and using a categorical model, we found that every hour per week of increased physical activity among firefighters was associated with 16% lower risk of occupational stress after adjusting for age, education, smoking, and body mass index (OR = 1.16; p = 0.05). In addition, our findings suggest an inverse dose–response relationship between physical activity and occupational stress among firefighters. Physical activity appears to be inversely associated with occupational stress and serves as an important mitigating factor of occupational stress in firefighters. Further research is warranted to evaluate the potential effect of exercise interventions on occupational stress, and the overall mental health of firefighters and other occupational groups.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise and Occupational Stress among Firefighters

Soteriades

Vogazianos

Tozzi³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…The lower air depletion, the longer a firefighter can work at an emergency scene and prolong interventions requiring air cylinder use. Aside from two studies that showed high rates of air consumption during simulated firefighting, air depletion from the SCBA has hardly been researched yet1920. Moreover, the relationship between fitness variables and air depletion has not been established yet.…”

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confidence: 99%

Relationships between strength and endurance parameters and air depletion rates in professional firefighters

Windisch

Seiberl

Schwirtz

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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The aim of this study was to quantify the physical demands of a simulated firefighting circuit and to establish the relationship between job performance and endurance and strength fitness measurements. On four separate days 41 professional firefighters (39 ± 9 yr, 179.6 ± 2.3 cm, 84.4 ± 9.2 kg, BMI 26.1 ± 2.8 kg/m2) performed treadmill testing, fitness testing (strength, balance and flexibility) and a simulated firefighting exercise. The firefighting exercise included ladder climbing (20 m), treadmill walking (200 m), pulling a wire rope hoist (15 times) and crawling an orientation section (50 m). Firefighting performance during the simulated exercise was evaluated by a simple time-strain-air depletion model (TSA) taking the sum of z-transformed parameters of time to finish the exercise, strain in terms of mean heart rate, and air depletion from the breathing apparatus. Multiple regression analysis based on the TSA-model served for the identification of the physiological determinants most relevant for professional firefighting. Three main factors with great influence on firefighting performance were identified (70.1% of total explained variance): VO2peak, the time firefighter exercised below their individual ventilatory threshold and mean breathing frequency. Based on the identified main factors influencing firefighting performance we recommend a periodic preventive health screening for incumbents to monitor peak VO2 and individual ventilatory threshold.

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“…As a result of these physiological demands, improving the fitness levels of firefighters has become a focal point within the United States. Further, a higher level of aerobic fitness, muscular endurance, and power has been shown to be associated with higher ratings of occupational performance, specifically air ventilation efficiency [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Furthermore, higher aerobic fitness and physical activity levels have been shown to be inversely related to risk factors for cardiovascular disease [ 10 ], which is prevalent among the firefighting profession and emergency personnel [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological Demands of a Self-Paced Firefighter Air-Management Course and Determination of Work Efficiency

Jagim

Luedke

Dobbs

et al. 2023

JFMK

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Firefighters often complete air management courses (AMC) to assess the ability to tolerate personal protective equipment, appropriately manage the breathing system and assess occupational performance. Little information is known relative to the physiological demands of AMCs, nor how to assess work efficiency in order to characterize occupational performance and evaluate progress. Purpose: To assess the physiological demands of an AMC and examine differences across BMI categories. A secondary aim was to develop an equation to assess work efficiency in firefighters. Methods: Fifty-seven firefighters (Women, n = 4; age: 37.2 ± 8.4 yr.; height: 182.0 ± 6.9 cm; body mass: 90.8 ± 13.1 kg; BMI: 27.8 ± 3.6 kg·m−2) completed an AMC per routine evaluation while wearing a department issued self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear. Course completion time, starting pounds per square inch (PSI) on the air cylinder, changes in PSI, and distance traveled were recorded. All firefighters were equipped with a wearable sensor integrated with a triaxial accelerometer and telemetry to assess movement kinematics, heart rate, energy expenditure, and training impulse. The AMC consisted of an initial section involving a hose line advance, rescue (body drag), stair climb, ladder raise, and forcible entry. This section was followed by a repeating loop, which consisted of a stair climb, search, hoist, and recovery walk. Firefighters repeated the course loop until the self-contained breathing apparatus air supply pressure reached 200 PSI, at which time they were instructed to lay down until the PSI reached zero. Results: Average completion time was 22.8 ± 1.4 min, with a mean distance of 1.4 ± 0.3 km and an average velocity of 2.4 ± 1.2 m·s−1. Throughout the AMC, the mean heart rate was 158.7 ± 11.5 bpm equating to 86.8 ± 6.3% of the age-predicted max heart rate and a training impulse of 55 ± 3 AU. Mean energy expenditure was 464 ± 86 kcals and work efficiency was 49.8 ± 14.9 km·PSI−1·s. Regression analysis determined that fat-free mass index (R2 = 0.315; β = −5.069), body fat percentage (R2 = 0.139; β = −0.853), fat-free mass (R2 = 0.176; β = −0.744), weight (R2 = 0.329; β = −0.681), and age (R2 = 0.096; β = −0.571) were significant predictors of work efficiency. Conclusions: The AMC is a highly aerobic task with near-maximal heart rates reached throughout the course. Smaller and leaner individuals achieved a higher degree of work efficiency during the AMC.

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Greater physical fitness is associated with better air ventilation efficiency in firefighters

Cited by 19 publications

References 31 publications

Exercise and Occupational Stress among Firefighters

Exercise and Occupational Stress among Firefighters

Relationships between strength and endurance parameters and air depletion rates in professional firefighters

Physiological Demands of a Self-Paced Firefighter Air-Management Course and Determination of Work Efficiency

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