28 Participants Needed

Heat Stress Effects on Firefighter Injury Risk

EM
CC
Overseen ByCory Coehoorn, PhD
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Gradual Heat Condition, Rapid Heat Condition for reducing firefighter injury risk?

The research suggests that understanding and measuring heat tolerance through indices like the Thermal-Circulatory Ratio (TCR) and Physiological Strain Index (PSI) can help identify individuals at risk of heat-related injuries. These indices can guide the development of heat acclimatization strategies, which may be similar to the Gradual and Rapid Heat Conditions, to improve safety and performance in hot environments.12345

Is the heat stress treatment generally safe for humans?

The studies show that firefighters experience significant heat strain, with increased core and skin temperatures and heart rates during firefighting activities. While these studies focus on physiological responses rather than safety, they highlight the importance of monitoring heat stress to prevent heat-related illnesses.14567

How does the treatment for heat stress effects on firefighter injury risk differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on practical cooling strategies specifically designed for firefighters to reduce heat strain and improve performance during firefighting tasks. Unlike other treatments, it incorporates the Adaptive Physiological Strain Index (aPSI) to provide a more accurate measure of physiological strain by considering skin temperature, which is crucial for those wearing protective clothing.15689

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will examine the effect of heat stress on factors that influence musculoskeletal injury risk in firefighters. Participants will attend 4 data collection sessions. 1: informed consent, screening, and familiarization. 2: pre-tests (strength, balance, and movement quality). 3: heat stress (rapid or gradual) followed by post-tests (strength, balance, and movement quality). 4: heat stress (rapid or gradual) followed by post-tests.

Research Team

EM

Erin McCallister, DPT

Principal Investigator

LSUHSC-Shreveport

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for firefighters who can safely undergo heat stress conditions. They'll participate in four sessions, including consent and pre-tests of strength, balance, and movement. The study excludes those with health issues that make heat exposure unsafe.

Inclusion Criteria

Professional firefighter
Healthy per the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire+ screening

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to swallow core temperature capsule
Unable to follow pre-testing hydration criteria
I've had a recent injury that affects my ability to move.
See 1 more

Timeline

Screening and Familiarization

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial and familiarized with outcome measures

1 week
1 visit (in-person)

Pre-test Data Collection

Participants complete pre-test data collection including strength, balance, and movement quality measures

1 week
1 visit (in-person)

Heat Stress Testing

Participants undergo heat stress testing with rapid and gradual heat stress conditions, followed by post-test measures

2 weeks
2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for musculoskeletal injuries and other outcomes

24 months
Follow-up calls every 6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Gradual Heat Condition
  • Rapid Heat Condition
Trial Overview The study tests how rapid or gradual heat stress affects musculoskeletal injury risk factors in firefighters. Participants will be exposed to one of the two heat conditions before undergoing post-test assessments.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Rapid Heat StressExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in the rapid heat stress arm will perform an exercise protocol on a treadmill in a hot, humid environment while wearing firefighter protective gear. This results in an uncompensable heat environment with a rapid increase in core temperature.
Group II: Gradual Heat StressActive Control1 Intervention
Participants in the rapid heat stress arm will perform an exercise protocol on a treadmill in a hot, humid environment while wearing light exercise clothing. This results in an uncompensable heat environment but with a gradual increase in core temperature.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport

Lead Sponsor

Trials
52
Recruited
19,400+

Findings from Research

Firefighters (FFs) performing tasks in 40 degrees Celsius while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) experienced significantly higher core temperatures, with a maximum of 40.4 degrees Celsius, compared to 37.79 degrees Celsius without PPE, indicating that PPE increases heat stress.
The developed experimental model effectively simulates uncompensable heat stress (UCHS) in firefighters, allowing for controlled studies to improve work-rest cycles and rehabilitation conditions, which is crucial for their safety and performance during firefighting operations.
An experimental model of heat storage in working firefighters.Van Gelder, CM., Pranger, LA., Wiesmann, WP., et al.[2008]
The study developed a new index called the Thermal-Circulatory Ratio (TCR), which combines rectal temperature and heart rate to assess heat tolerance in individuals with a history of heat-related injuries, showing 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity at a TCR value of 0.279 °C/bpm after a 120-minute heat tolerance test.
Using a TCR threshold of 0.320 °C/bpm after 60 minutes can effectively identify heat tolerance with 100% sensitivity and 69% specificity, potentially allowing for a shorter and more efficient heat tolerance test for those who meet this criterion.
The thermal-circulatory ratio (TCR): An index to evaluate the tolerance to heat.Ketko, I., Eliyahu, U., Epstein, Y., et al.[2020]
A basal heat stress test (HST) can identify individuals at risk of heat intolerance during heat acclimatization (HA), with those showing higher rectal temperatures (Trec) and heart rates (HR) during the test being more likely to benefit from HA but still remaining less tolerant to heat afterward.
Participants with a basal Trec above 38.5°C after HA were classified as 'at risk', indicating that monitoring these physiological markers can help military personnel select individuals who are better prepared for operations in hot conditions.
A basal heat stress test to detect military operational readiness after a 14-day operational heat acclimatization period.Malgoyre, A., Siracusa, J., Tardo-Dino, PE., et al.[2021]

References

An experimental model of heat storage in working firefighters. [2008]
The thermal-circulatory ratio (TCR): An index to evaluate the tolerance to heat. [2020]
A basal heat stress test to detect military operational readiness after a 14-day operational heat acclimatization period. [2021]
Simulated Firefighting Task Performance and Physiology Under Very Hot Conditions. [2020]
Indices of physiological strain for firefighters of the Australian Defence Forces. [2021]
Physiological responses during shipboard firefighting. [2006]
Risk for heat-related illness among wildland firefighters: job tasks and core body temperature change. [2020]
Cooling strategies for firefighters: Effects on physiological, physical, and visuo-motor outcomes following fire-fighting tasks in the heat. [2022]
The influence of short-term firefighting activity on information processing performance. [2022]
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