Citation

Medbø JI, Mamen A, Oseland H, Heimburg EDV. Int. J. Occup. Safety Ergonomics 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-8.

Affiliation

Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Education and Arts , Nord University , Røstad , Levanger , Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10803548.2019.1573013

PMID

30664392

Abstract

PURPOSE: Physiologic demands of five common tasks in firefighting have been examined.

METHODS: Eight male volunteers, being dressed up as smoke divers (+21 kg extra load), carried out the following tasks at constant pace for 5 min: Walking at 1.4 m·s^-1, walking (all walks at the same speed) while carrying a 10 kg ladder, walking carrying two hose packs of 16 kg together, walking carrying a 32 kg spreader tool, finally climbing up and down a ladder at preset pace. A 5  min break separated each exercise. Heart rate, O₂-uptake and ventilation were measured continuously, and blood lactate concentration was recorded after each task.

RESULTS: The end-exercise heart rate rose from 108 to 180 bpm from first to last task, blood lactate concentration rose from 1 to 7 mmol·L^-1, O₂-uptake rose from 19 to 48 ml·kg^-1·min^-1, and ventilation rose from 38 to 124 L·min^-1.

DISCUSSION: Walking was an easy task even when dressed up as a smoke diver. Adding loads increased demands; ladder climbing taxed >90% of the subjects' aerobic power.

CONCLUSIONS: The physiologic demands varied considerably between different tasks.

Language: en

Keywords

Blood lactate concentration; Exercise; Firefighting; Heart rate; Ladder climbing; O-uptake; Rating of perceived exertion; Ventilation