Cardiovascular and sympathetic reactions to in-flight emergency responses among base fire fighters

The responses of 12 healthy male fire fighters to simulated and actual in-flight emergencies were investigated. Subjects were aroused from sleep during all emergency responses. The ECG, blood pressure, heart rate (HR), rate-pressure product (RPP), and plasma norepinephrine (NE) responses were determined. Despite a mean HR increase of 112% (75 beats/min) and a 145% rise in RPP, there was no significant elevation in plasma NE concentration during the emergency response. Legible ECG tracings showed no abnormal ST segment deviations or arrhythmias. The HR, BP, and RPP results indicated a greater cardiovascular response to emergencies among inactive fire fighters than among those who were physically active. Based on the observed differences between emergency and simulated emergency responses, we concluded that the physiological reactions during emergency responses were due primarily to the arousal response. When suddenly aroused from sleep, the fire fighter's response to in-flight emergencies produces significant elevations in HR and myocardial oxygen consumption which were unrelated to increases in sympathetic activity.