Physiological Impacts of Cold Conditions during Moderate Intensity Activity while Wearing Firefighter Protective...

Area of Science:

• Environmental physiology
• Occupational health
• Firefighting safety

Background:

• Thermal protective clothing (TPC) is essential for firefighters but can impede heat release, increasing hyperthermia risk.
• Limited research exists on firefighting in cold environments, despite the prevalence of winter structure fires.
• Understanding physiological responses is crucial for firefighter safety and performance in diverse conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document firefighters' physiological responses during moderate-intensity exercise in a cold environment while wearing TPC.
• To test the hypothesis that a cold environment would maintain normal core body temperature and decrease extremity temperature compared to a thermal neutral environment.

Main Methods:

• Fourteen firefighters exercised in simulated thermal neutral (20°C) and cold (-8°C) conditions.
• Physiological data including core temperature (Tc), heart rate (HR), and mean skin temperature (MST) were monitored.
• Exercise involved treadmill walking simulating firefighting work intervals, followed by a recovery period.

Main Results:

• Exercise in both conditions increased core temperature, HR, respiratory rate (RR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE).
• Physiological and perceptual responses were significantly higher in the thermal neutral condition compared to the cold condition.
• Recovery was faster following exercise in the cold environment.

Conclusions:

• Moderate-intensity exercise in TPC elicits greater physiological and perceptual strain in a thermal neutral environment than in a cold one.
• Faster recovery in the cold may allow for extended work durations or reduced crew needs, but risks of cold-induced injuries were not assessed.
• Further research is needed to establish guidelines for cold-weather firefighting operations and their impact on firefighter health.