Evaluation of Air Consumption Efficiency in Structural Firefighters.

These findings indicate that firefighters may enhance air consumption efficiency through training interventions focused on improving body composition the metabolic tolerance to work. Firefighters should also be mindful of excessive and unnecessary load carriage, as increasing gear mass was also asso...

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Published in:Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine Vol. 66; no. 11; pp. 932 - 943
Main Authors: Langford, Emily L., Bergstrom, Haley C., Lanham, Sarah N., Eastman, Alyssa Q., Best, Stuart, Ma, Xin, Abel, Mark G.
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Nov2024
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Nov2024
      vid: 66
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      pub: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
      place: Baltimore, Maryland
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        atl: Evaluation of Air Consumption Efficiency in Structural Firefighters.
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        au:
          Langford, Emily L.
          Bergstrom, Haley C.
          Lanham, Sarah N.
          Eastman, Alyssa Q.
          Best, Stuart
          Ma, Xin
          Abel, Mark G.
        affil: From the Waters College of Health Professions, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia (E.L.L.)
      sug:
        subj:
          Firefighters
          Oxygen Consumption Evaluation
          Task Performance and Analysis
          Job Performance
          Human
          Funding Source
          Respiratory Protective Devices
          Blood Gas Analysis
          Descriptive Statistics
          Anthropometry
          Productivity
          Occupational Safety
          Occupational Health
      ab: These findings indicate that firefighters may enhance air consumption efficiency through training interventions focused on improving body composition the metabolic tolerance to work. Firefighters should also be mindful of excessive and unnecessary load carriage, as increasing gear mass was also associated with poorer air consumption efficiency. Objective: This study examines variability in air consumption (AC) between firefighters (FF) working at a standardized pace, evaluates the relationship between air consumption efficiency (ACE) and work economy, identifies parameters associated with ACE, and explores the relationship between ACE and self-paced work rate. Methods: FF completed randomized trials of an air consumption drill at a standardized pace while breathing through a self-contained breathing apparatus and a gas analyzer. A subsample completed another trial at a self-selected pace. Results: The average AC variability (±1 standard deviation) was ~3.1 min of cylinder usage (13.7%). AC was positively associated with work economy and numerous physiological and anthropometric outcomes. No relationship was found between ACE and self-paced air consumption drill time. Conclusions: FF working at higher internal strain demonstrated poorer ACE. Improving metabolic tolerance may extend the self-contained breathing apparatus' functional duration to enhance productivity and safety.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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