Abstract
PURPOSE: During an annual Flashover training drill, the LifeShirtTM ambulatory physiology monitor was used to assess cardiovascular and respiratory responses of 10 professional firefighters. The average firefighter age was 31.3 ±8.3 years (range: 22–47) with a minimum of 2 years of professional service experience. Flashover is a high heat exposure drill executed within a specialized chamber for the purpose of teaching awareness of factors leading to lethal real-life flashover events. METHODS: Firefighter heart rate (HR), breathing frequency (Br/M), minute ventilation (VE) and tidal volume (VT) were monitored during a pre-event rest period (PRE), the heat exposure period (HE) and during a post-event recovery period (POST). During HE, firefighters wore full personal protective equipment and breathing apparatus. Using specific heat loads and control of airflow within the chamber, flashover events are initiated in a controlled environment. RESULTS: Temperatures inside the chamber averaged 900 ± 100 0F, at 8ft above floor level, 600 ± 75 0F at 5ft above floor level, and 300 ± 60 0F at the 2ft above floor level. Firefighter HR was significantly elevated POST compared to all other periods (PRE: 99.5 ±21.7 beats/minute vs. HE: 110.5 ± 18.9 beats/minute vs. POST: 142.2 ± 26.7 beats/minute). HR did not differ between PRE and HE periods. Br/M was elevated POST compared to all others (PRE: 25.6 ±7.7 breaths/minute vs. HE: 25.8 ± 6.1 breaths/minute vs. POST: 36.4 ±5.1 breaths/minute). Br/M did not differ between PRE and HE. VE was higher POST compared to all other periods (PE: VE: 20.0 ± 14.6 vs. HE: VE: 21.7 ± 10.7 L/m). VE did not differ between PRE and HE. VT did not differ among test periods. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated physiological stress during the passive post-event recovery period may be a core body temperature protective mechanism. If so, the cardiovascular response should be considered a potential contributor to firefighting-related death.
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