White Scott C, Hostler David
a Emergency Responder Human Performance Lab, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences , University at Buffalo , Buffalo NY , USA.
Ergonomics. 2017 Aug;60(8):1137-1145. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2016.1257162. Epub 2016 Nov 22.
Fire suppression wearing thermal protective clothing (TPC) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) challenges a firefighter's balance and may explain firefighter falls. Postural control based on force plate centre of pressure (COP) was compared for healthy subjects wearing TPC and SCBA before and after 20 min of heavy physical exertion in hot conditions. Baseline measures with and without TPC and SCBA (two different SCBA cylinder masses) were compared before and after exertion that included elements of fire suppression activities in an environmental chamber. COP excursion and variability increased with exertion for TPC and SCBA conditions compared to non-stressed conditions. The two different cylinder masses had no significant effect. Wearing TPC and SCBA when physically stressed in a hot environment increases postural sway and exacerbates postural control. Subjects compensated for the extra mass and adjusted to control postural sway with the addition of TPC and SCBA, but the stress protocol amplified these adjustments. Practitioner Summary: Firefighters wear thermal protective clothing (TPC) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) when heat-stressed and fatigued. Wearing TPC and SCBA was found to negatively impact balance when stressed, but not for non-stressed or two different sized SCBA tanks. Simulating fire-ground conditions wearing TPC and SCBA should be considered for improving balance.
穿着隔热防护服（TPC）和自给式呼吸器（SCBA）进行灭火工作对消防员的平衡能力构成挑战，这可能是消防员摔倒的原因。在炎热条件下进行20分钟剧烈体力活动前后，对穿着TPC和SCBA的健康受试者基于测力板压力中心（COP）的姿势控制进行了比较。在环境舱内进行包括灭火活动要素的体力活动前后，比较了有无TPC和SCBA（两种不同的SCBA气瓶质量）时的基线测量值。与无压力状态相比，在TPC和SCBA条件下，COP偏移和变异性随体力活动增加。两种不同的气瓶质量没有显著影响。在炎热环境中身体承受压力时穿着TPC和SCBA会增加姿势摆动并加剧姿势控制难度。受试者通过增加TPC和SCBA来补偿额外的重量并调整以控制姿势摆动，但压力方案放大了这些调整。从业者总结：消防员在受热应激和疲劳时会穿着隔热防护服（TPC）和自给式呼吸器（SCBA）。研究发现，在承受压力时穿着TPC和SCBA会对平衡产生负面影响，但在无压力状态或使用两种不同尺寸的SCBA气瓶时则不会。为了改善平衡能力，应考虑模拟穿着TPC和SCBA的火场条件。
