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Heart Rate Response of Firefighters to Actual Emergencies

1992; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 34; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/00043764-199208000-00014

1536-5948

M. S. Sothmann, Kurt W. Saupe, Deborah Jasenof, J. Blaney,

Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (V̇O2) responses during actual fire-suppression emergencies were monitored in 10 male firefighters. These firefighters worked at 157 ± 8 beats per minute (bpm) for 15 ± 7 minutes. This was 88 ± 6% of their previously determined HR max. Based on treadmill testing, the HR × (V̇O2) relationship was established for each firefighter. The predicted (V̇O2) derived from HR monitoring in actual emergencies was 25.6 ± 8.7 mL·kg-1·min-1 or 63 ± 14% of (V̇O2) max (40.0 ± 6.5 mL·kg-1·min-1). These values on the cardiorespiratory response to actual emergencies are very similar to results derived from studies employing fire-suppression simulations. Recommendations for the (V̇O2) max of firefighters ranging from 33.5 to 42.0 mL·kg-1·min-1 that have been generated from simulation testing appear appropriate given the cardiorespiratory responses to actual emergencies.