Skip to main content
2023 NSCA National Conference Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Back
Rate ePoster

Tactical Strength and Conditioning

(32) OXYGEN UPTAKE RESPONSES OF FIRE ENGINE CREWMEMBERS DURING A SIMULATED FIRE SUPPRESSION SCENARIO

Friday, July 14, 2023
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Milano III-IV

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Megan B. Thompson, MS (she/her/hers)

    Doctoral Student
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

    • Author(s)

  • ML

    Marcel Lopes Dos Santos

    Doctoral Student
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

  • Sh

    Shane hammer

    Assistant Professor
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

  • NB

    Nick Bartley

    .
    Denver South Metro Fire
    Denver, Colorado, United States

  • CM

    Chris Macklin

    Health & Wellness Director
    Denver South Metro Fire
    Denver, Colorado, United States

  • SP

    Sophie Perekslis

    Cognitive Performance Coach
    Denver South Metro Fire
    Denver, Colorado, United States

  • JS

    Josh Schmidt

    Captain
    Denver South Metro Fire
    Denver, Colorado, United States

  • Jay Dawes, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Okahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

Abstract Details: Fire engine crews are responsible for conducting initial attack and extended fire suppression tasks during both structural and wildland fires. These tasks include, but are not limited to, deploying and laying hose, advancing charged hoses, door breaches, stairclimbing, salvage, and overhaul. Fire agencies may require applicants and career firefighters to perform occupational fitness testing on a yearly basis to ensure minimum fitness standards are met. When responding to an active fire event, and while performing annual fitness testing, firefighters must wear upwards of 21.8 kg of personal protective equipment (PPE), which may increase the physiological burden of performing occupational tasks.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the oxygen uptake responses and metabolic equivalents (METs) of performing a series of fire suppression tasks among fire engine crewmembers.

Methods: Twenty five (n=25) male (age: 38.00 ± 10.01 years; height: 179.43 ± 6.04 cm; mass: 88.81 ± 10.22 kg; mass with PPE: 114.14 ± 11.00 kg), and three (n=3) female (age: 35.67 ± 6.03 years; height: 165.10 ± 2.54 cm; mass: 71.00 ± 5.70 kg; mass with PPE: 97.03 ± 4.07 kg) fire engine crewmembers worked in two-person crews to perform a scenario consisting of a series of occupational tasks. These tasks included: hose deployment, door breach, charged hose advance, stair climb, ceiling breach and pull, and fire suppression. During this scenario, oxygen uptake (V̇O2) was measured continuously using a portable V̇O2 analyzer with Bluetooth capabilities and subsequently normalized to body mass (ml·kg·min-1). METs were then calculated as 1 MET equal to 3.5 ml·kg·min-1. Peak V̇O2 for the scenario was determined as the highest average three-breath value. RESULTS: It was discovered that crewmembers weighed an average of 25.40 ± 0.48 kg more while wearing assigned PPE. Additionally, crewmembers reached peak V̇O2 values of 39.56 ± 11.1 ml·kg·min-1, which corresponded to 11.55 ± 2.91 METs.

Conclusions: These data suggest that vigorous levels of physical activity are required when performing fire suppression tasks. The minimum standard for firefighting currently requires applicants and career firefighters to achieve a MET level of 12, as the most demanding occupational tasks have been shown to require a mean V̇O2 of 41.5 ml·kg·min-1. The observed MET level of 11.55 during the scenario is consistent with the minimum standard for firefighters. Wearing an additional 25 kg of PPE likely elevated the V̇O2 demands and MET level of performing these occupational tasks. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Strength and conditioning programs for engine crewmembers should focus on the simultaneous development of cardiorespiratory fitness and strength to meet and ease the physiological burden associated with firefighting tasks. Additionally, further investigation is necessary to parse out the overall contribution of PPE on the V̇O2 responses to tasks associated with fire suppression.

Acknowledgements: NONE