Functional Performance of Firefighters After Exposure to Environmental Conditions and Exercise

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Physiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Slips, trips, and falls are primary causes of firefighter injuries.
• Heat stress is a suspected major contributor to these fireground incidents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of hot and ambient temperatures, alongside exercise, on firefighter functional and physiological outcomes.
• Key measures include balance, rectal temperature, and perceived exertion.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a laboratory environmental chamber.
• Thirteen healthy, active career firefighters participated.
• Interventions included exercise in heat, standing in heat, and exercise in ambient temperature, with data collected pre- and post-intervention and post-recovery.

Main Results:

• Exercise in heat significantly reduced functional balance compared to other conditions.
• Rectal temperature increased, and perceived exertion was altered during exercise in hot conditions.
• These physiological changes occurred similarly to findings in the general physically active population.

Conclusions:

• Exercise in hot, humid environments negatively impacts functional balance in firefighters.
• The combination of exercise and heat stress, rather than acting independently, appears to increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
• Findings underscore the critical role of environmental heat in firefighter safety and injury prevention.