1 - The Firefighting Environment Flashcards
What are the performance issues related to the physiology of firefighting?
heat stress, metabolic stress, respiratory stress, cardiovascular stress, muscular stress, load carriage
What is the average METs that firefighters are working at?
10-12 METs - equivalent to running at just below 7mph on flat ground, even though firefighters are usually just walking
What is the average oxygen uptake for firefighters?
2.5-3.0 L/min
What factors contribute to the high aerobic demand of firefighting?
load carriage, mode of exercise, the hobbling effect, respiratory work
What is the average relative VO2 of firefighting?
~35 ml/kg/min
How long does aerobic demand take to stabilize?
about 5 minutes
What does an RER >1.0 indicate?
working above ventilatory threshold (working anaerobically)
What is the average mass of FPE?
25kg
How much does the protective clothing ensemble weigh vs. the breathing apparatus?
both approximately 12kg
When does load carriage cost the least/is the most efficient?
when carried closes to the center of mass
What is the hobbling effect?
the metabolic cost increase due to additional layers - oxygen cost goes up with metabolic cost
2.4% per additional layer
What is the approximate decrease in VO2max due to SCBA?
~19-20% overall (~5% due to load of SCBA, ~13% due to SCBA regulator)
How does SCBA and FPE impact peak work capacity?
reduced ~15-30% (measured in exercise time, power output, etc.)
What are some of the reasons that women may have a slightly different physiological response in FPE?
equipment probably designed for men, women have smaller airways and lungs (if impairment has to do with the flow of air, females have more resistance in their airways)
