Effects of cooling vest and personal protective equipment removal on thermoregulation in wildland firefighters during progressive thermal loads.

Background: Wildland firefighters (WFFs) regularly face demanding physical and environmental conditions during their duties, such as high ambient temperatures, challenging terrains, heavy equipment and protective gear. These conditions can strain thermoregulatory responses, leading to increased fatigue and posing risks to their health and safety. This study examined the effectiveness of two cooling interventions during physical activity in hot environments. Methods: Eight active male WFFs participated, comparing the effects of wearing a cooling vest (VEST) and personal protective equipment removal (PASSIVE) against a control condition (PPE). Participants walked on a treadmill at a speed of 6 km·h-1 for approximately 75-min under hot conditions (30°C and 30% relative humidity). Incremental slope increases were introduced every 15 min after the initial 20 min of activity, with 5-min passive recovery between each increment. Physiological and perceptual parameters were monitored throughout the protocol. Results: Significant main effects (p < 0.05) were observed in skin temperature (36.3 ± 0.2, 36.2 ± 0.4 and 35.4 ± 0.6°C in PPE, PASSIVE and VEST, respectively), physiological strain index (5.2 ± 0.4, 5.6 ± 1.1 and 4.3 ± 1.4 in PPE, PASSIVE and VEST) and thermal sensation (6.6 ± 0.6, 6.4 ± 0.7 and 5.3 ± 0.7 in PPE, PASSIVE, and VEST). However, no significant effects of the cooling strategies were observed on heart rate, gastrointestinal temperature or performance. Conclusion: Despite the observed effects on physiological responses, neither cooling strategy effectively mitigated thermal strain in WFFs under the experimental conditions tested.

Occupational Injuries of Spanish Wildland Firefighters: A Descriptive Analysis.

The work of wildland firefighters, especially of the so-called 'Brigadas de Refuerzo contra Incendios Forestales', is characterised by high physical demands and extreme operating conditions. These professionals face long workdays (12 h), walking with heavy loads (~25 kg), being exposed to high temperatures (>30 °C), and handling specialised tools in high-risk environments. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of occupational injuries among members of the 'Brigadas de Refuerzo contra Incendios Forestales' and its relationship to variables such as age and work experience. A total of 217 wildland firefighters (18 female and 199 male) correctly answered a questionnaire developed on an ad hoc basis to meet the study's objectives. A high prevalence of occupational injuries was observed among them (~76%). Age and work experience were shown to be significantly associated with injuries. Individuals over 35 years of age with more than 10 years' experience had a higher probability of injury (OR = 2.14, CI = 1.12-4.06 and OR = 2.46, CI = 1.30-4.67, respectively). Injuries occurred mainly during physical training (~46%), followed by preventive work (~33%) and forest fires (~20%). The most common injuries were tendonitis and muscle pain (~44% and ~21% respectively), followed by sprains (~21%). The results underline the need for physical activity programmes adapted to help wildland firefighters, especially older and more experienced individuals. The identification of risk factors such as age and work experience can contribute to the prevention and management of occupational injuries among this group of highly specialised forestry workers. Specific preventative measures during training are required to mitigate the risk of injury among these crews, who play a crucial role in protecting the environment and public safety.

Case study: Evaluating deep-water start techniques and training demands in seated slalom waterskiing for an athlete with paraplegia.

Purpose: Recreational and competitive slalom waterskiing is increasingly popular among individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI), particularly for those with paraplegia using sit-skis. A key component of slalom skiing is the deep-water start (DWS), yet little is known about the physiological and physical demands of this activity when the athlete is seated. This study aims to fill this gap by focusing on the training requirements for a seated slalom athlete. Materials and methods: Focusing on a young male athlete with paraplegia, this case study evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of traditional (TDWS) and alternative (ADWS) DWS techniques during seated slalom waterskiing sessions. It assesses internal training load (TL) through heart rate (HR) zones and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), alongside pre- and post-session handgrip strength measurements to gauge peripheral muscle fatigue. Results and conclusions: Performing the ADWS, achieving a full success rate, proved more effective but slightly more time-consuming than TDWS, which had limited success. HR during DWS maneuvers ranged from 63.2 to 81.3% of maximal HR, with most sessions occurring below the ventilatory threshold, thus perceived as hard effort. A moderate yet non-significant correlation was found between HR and sRPE-based TL. A significant reduction in handgrip strength post-session underscores the activity's demands. These insights illuminate the technical, physiological, and physical challenges in mastering DWS for seated slalom athletes with SCI, providing valuable guidance for the development of tailored training programs and techniques in this sport.

Effect of a High-Intensity Circuit Training Program on the Physical Fitness of Wildland Firefighters.

Wildland firefighting implies high physical and psychological demands for the personnel involved. Therefore, good physical fitness can help increase the work efficiency of wildland firefighters (WFFs) and safeguard their health. High-intensity circuit training (HICT) could be a good alternative to improve the physical condition of WFFs since it stands out for its functionality and economy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the effects of HICT on the WFFs' physical fitness. The study involved 9 WFFs (8 males and 1 female; 29.8 ± 2.8 years; 175.6 ± 6.7 cm) who completed a training program and 9 WFF candidates (8 males and 1 female; 24.7 ± 6.6 yr, 176.5 ± 7.0 cm) as a control group. WFFs performed an 8-week HICT program (two weekly training sessions). The training sessions lasted approximately 45 min and were performed at an intensity >80% of maximal heart rate and RPE values >7.5. At the beginning and the end of the intervention, subjects' physical fitness (i.e., aerobic capacity, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular resistance and explosive strength) was assessed through different tests. After completing the training program, WFFs had significantly increased (p < 0.05) the speed at which the ventilatory thresholds were determined (12.4 ± 13.9 and 5.7 ± 7.3% for the ventilatory and respiratory compensation thresholds, respectively) and also their abdominal (31.2 ± 17.2%), lumbar (34.1 ± 13.5%) and upper limb (13.3 ± 16.0%) strength. Moreover, improvements (p < 0.05) in the explosive strength of legs (7.1 ± 5.8%) and performance in a specific physical employment test (12.2 ± 6.1%) were observed. In conclusion, the results of this study show that an 8-week high-intensity circuit training program could be an effective and safe method to improve WFFs' physical fitness and performance.