Effects of a Heated Environment and Exercise on Firefighter Response Time and Gait: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract

Firefighters are often required to work in high-temperature environments, which can lead to an elevated core temperature. Prolonged exposure to heat can have significant physiological impacts, potentially affecting both cognitive and physical performance. While previous research has examined the effects of heat on general occupational tasks, there is limited information on how these conditions specifically affect firefighters' response times and gait characteristics, such as step length, swing time, stance time, double support time, and velocity. Understanding these impacts is crucial for improving safety and performance in firefighting operations. This study aims to explore the effects of an elevated core temperature on response time and gait parameters in firefighters. A repeated measures randomized design was implemented for this study to evaluate the effects that an increased core temperature may have on response time and gait in firefighters. The independent variable for this study was time with two levels (pre-heat exposure, and post-heat exposure). The dependent variables were response time which was assessed using a Go/No-Go task administered via a laptop, and gait (step length, swing time, stance time, velocity, and double support time) which was analyzed via a GAITRite walkway. Participants completed all of the required tasks while wearing their full personal protective equipment (hood, helmet, gloves, jacket, pants, and boots). Additionally, participants completed the exercise protocol in an environmental chamber set to 110 ℉ and 50% relative humidity. Statistical analyses were performed using R Studios version 3.6.0 (R Studio Team, Boston, MA, USA). A paired samples t-test was used to assess changes in gait and response time as a result of prolonged exposure to a heated environment. An a priori alpha level of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance of the results. 15 Firefighters from the East Alabama area were recruited to participate in this research study. Results from the paired samples t-test indicated no significant change in response time between pre-heat exposure and post-heat exposure (t (14) =.2242, p= 0.8258, mean difference = 5.48 ms). Additionally, results from the paired samples t-test for the gait variables indicated no significant change between pre-heat and post-heat exposure (step length: left foot, t(14)=1.0216, p=0.3243, mean difference = 2.26 cm; right foot: t(14)=1.4094, p=0.1805, mean difference = 2.33 cm; swing time: left foot, t(14)= -0.471, p=0.6446, mean difference = -0.012 seconds; right foot: t(14)=1.0852, p=0.2961, mean difference seconds = 0.011; stance time: left foot, t(14)=-0.36779, p=0.7185, mean difference = -0.007 seconds; right foot: t(14)=-0.3246, p=0.7503, mean difference =-0.0054 seconds; double-support time: left foot, t(14)= -1.6731, p=0.1165, mean difference = -0.0492 seconds; right foot: t(14)= -1.325, p= 0.2064, mean difference = -0.0294 seconds; velocity: t(14)= 0.62386, p=0.5428, mean difference = 2.42 m/s). The results from this research study are exploratory and not confirmatory in nature. Due to the small sample size for this study, no conclusive statements can be made regarding the effect of a heated environment on response time and gait in firefighters. Further research studies should be conducted to continue to analyze how a heated environment impacts firefighter occupational performance.