Body Temperature and Firefighter Ensemble Temperatures During Exercise and Exposure to Moderate Warm, and Hot Air Temperatures

摘要

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships among FFE temperatures and body temperatures during exercise in moderate, warm and hot air temperatures. Male subjects (n=10) attempted three trials of 20-min rest, 20-min exercise, 20-min recovery, 20-min exercise and 20-min recovery. Subjects wore complete FFE and respired using a positive-pressure breathing apparatus. Exercise treadmill walking (1.1 msEXP -1/0% grade), occurred in 50% relative humidity (RH) and dry-bulb (Tsub db) temperatures of 21 degrees C (MOD), 35 degrees C (WARM), and 48 degrees C (HOT), while seat rest and recovery occurred in 27 degrees C air. All subjects completed the test during the MOD and WARM trials. Only 4 subjects completed the HOT trials. ANCOVA revealed (1) significant trial, exercise period, and trial-by-exercise period effects for HR, T(sub re), and HS; (2) significant trial and trial-by-exercise period effects for T(sub msk); and (3) significant trial effects for T(sub 0), T(sub M), and T(sub 1) FFE temperatures. Our findings suggest that exercise T(sub re) in subjects wearing FFE is related to dry-bulb temperature and heat storage. This information may predict stay times during exposure to extreme conditions. This information has implications for the development of future FFE designs, and the construction of heat strain models.