Physiologic strain of SCBA confidence course training compared to circuit training and live-fire training

An Examination of Subjective and Objective Measures of Stress in Tactical Populations: A Scoping Review

“…Five studies were from Finland [ 33 , 40 , 41 , 51 , 52 ], three from Japan [ 31 , 32 , 48 ], two from Australia [ 23 , 30 ] and two from Canada [ 44 , 53 ]. One study each came from Germany [ 20 ], Norway [ 27 ], France [ 36 ], Italy [ 42 ], Brazil [ 55 ] (also affiliated with the USA), the United Kingdom [ 56 ], and Iran [ 57 ].…”

“…Three tactical subpopulations were represented: the largest being military populations, with 26 articles. Twelve studies followed fire or rescue personnel [ 20 , 29 , 30 , 33 , 34 , 36 , 42 , 43 , 48 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Three studies followed police officers [ 22 , 32 , 37 ], while one investigated police recruits [ 44 ].…”

“…In police officers, researchers also examined the stress response to high fidelity simulation of policing events [ 44 ] and the effects of personal protective equipment during an occupational physical ability test (OPAT) [ 37 ]. Additionally, in firefighters, multiple live-fire training scenarios were investigated both with and without personal protective equipment (PPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) masks [ 29 , 30 , 34 , 36 , 42 , 43 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Military personnel were examined during combat simulations [ 24 , 26 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 62 , 63 ], cargo flights and parachute jumps [ 21 , 25 , 31 , 45 ], underwater evacuation training [ 54 ], selection courses [ 27 , 28 , 35 , 39 ], and longer term (5+ days in length) military field training [ 15 , 16 , 23 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 64 ].…”

“…Twenty-four studies examined changes in heart rate (bpm) throughout the operational task or duty being performed [ 15 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 33 , 34 , 36 , 37 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 62 , 63 ], with 19 reporting significant findings [ 20 , 22 , 24 , 26 , 29 , 31 , 34 , 36 , 37 , 42 , 43 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 55 , 57 , 60 , 62 , 63 ]. In all studies with significant findings, mean HR increased from pre- to post-task (from 73.5 bpm to 110.8 bpm) ( p ≤ 0.000).…”

“…Thirteen studies examined body temperature as a measure of thermal stress during tactical operations [ 21 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 43 , 45 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 55 , 57 ]. Temperature was measured in three different ways: skin temperature via infrared thermometer [ 26 , 28 , 30 , 45 , 46 , 49 , 50 , 57 ], core temperature via disposable sensor capsules [ 29 , 30 , 34 , 43 , 55 ], and oral temperature with the use of a clinical thermometer [ 48 ]. Significant increases in body temperature during tasks were observed in six studies [ 29 , 30 , 34 , 43 , 55 , 57 ].…”