european college of sport science

OP-ST05 Sports 5
THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT COOLING STRATEGIES ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL STRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH FIREFIGHTING
ACTIVITY IN THE HEAT
BARR, D., GREGSON, W., REILLY, T.
LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY
Introduction: Performing firefighting activity in the heat imposes a high degree of physiological stress (Rossi, 2003). The provision of effective
cooling methods is important for the health and safety of firefighters. Cooling via the application of ice vests combined with
hand/forearm water immersion (~19oC) reduces the physiological strain incurred during firefighting activities (Barr et al., 2009). However,
the relative contribution of these two cooling methods is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of an ice vest
relative to hand/forearm water immersion on the physiological responses during firefighting activity in the heat.
Methods
On four separate occasions under high ambient temperatures (49.1 ± 1.3 oC, RH 12 ± 1%), seven male firefighters [mean + s: age 40, s =
6 years, maximal oxygen uptake 50.6 s = 4.6 mlkgmin-1, % body fat 19, s = 4 %], completed two 20-min bouts of
treadmill walking (5 kmh-1, 7.5% gradient) separated by a 15-min recovery period. During each exercise bout, firefighters wore
standard protective clothing, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). During the recovery period, participants removed their
helmets, tunics, anti-flash hoods, gloves and SCBA, consumed a controlled amount of water (temperature ~19oC) (5 mlkg-1
body mass) and were either cooled via an ice vest (VEST), hand/forearm immersion (W; ~19oC), ice vest combined with hand/forearm
immersion (VEST+W) or remained seated without cooling (CON).
Results: During the first bout of exercise physiological variables were similar under all conditions. Core temperature was lower at the end
of the 15-min recovery period in W (37.96 ± 0.19oC) and VEST+W (37.97 ± 0.23oC) compared to the VEST (38.21 ± 0.12oC) and CON (38.29
± 0.25oC) and remained lower throughout the second bout of exercise (p < 0.05). Mean skin temperature was higher in CON compared
to the three cooling conditions (p