Purpose: To determine if the effects of environmental conditions and their corresponding levels of heat strain during wildfire suppression influence behavior of wildland firefighters (WLFFs). Methods: Twenty-two WLFFs participated in regular activities on the fireline while under direct observation. Core (TC) and skin (TSK) temperatures, heart rate (HR), breathing rate (RR), physiological strain index (PSI), activity counts (ACT), ambient temperature (TEMP), relative humidity (HUM), and a detailed activity log were recorded in 10-minute averages across the entire work shift of subjects in the study. Wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) estimations were calculated using TEMP and HUM inputs recorded during the work shift. Results: Total time spent in temperature classifications defined by WBGT was 2,280 minutes or 16% of the total time (14,240 min). Average ACT in the white, green, yellow, red, and black flag conditions (384.0 ± 400.5 countsmin-1, 122.0 ± 125.8 countsmin-1, 106.8 ± 176.3 countsmin-1, 324.1 ± 353.6 countsmin-1, 249.7 ± 236.8 countsmin-1) were not less than ACT during WBGT conditions below 78.0°F (487.0 ± 704.4 countsmin-1). PSI values observed in the five flag conditions (3.1 ± 1.3, 2.2 ± 1.4, 2.1 ± 1.2, 2.7 ± 0.9, 2.9 ± 0.7) and outside of (2.2 ± 1.6) indicate adequate thermoregulation in this population across all weather conditions. Additionally, there was no difference in TC in response to changing environmental conditions. TSK and the gradient between TC and TSK were highly variable across all 22 subjects and environmental conditions. Conclusion: Increase in WBGT gradation did not reduce observed measurements of ACT and PSI. Situations of elevated body temperature were mitigated by individuals in response to body heat manifestation across all temperatures.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MONTANA/oai:etd.lib.umt.edu:etd-06102014-201646 |
| Date | 26 June 2014 |
| Creators | Sol, Joseph Alan |
| Contributors | Stephen Lodmell, Charlie Palmer, Joe Domitrovich, Brent Ruby |
| Publisher | The University of Montana |
| Source Sets | University of Montana Missoula |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-06102014-201646/ |
| Rights | restricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Montana or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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