Citation

Brearley MB, Norton I, Rush D, Hutton M, Smith S, Ward L, Fuentes H. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2016; 58(12): 1250-1256.

Affiliation

National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, Level 8 Royal Darwin Hospital (Dr Brearley), Tiwi, NT, Australia; World Health Organisation (Dr Norton), Geneva, Switzerland; Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (Mr Rush, Mr Smith), Cannon Hill, Queensland; Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (Mr Hutton), Darwin, Northern Territory; Menzies School of Health Research (Ms Ward), Tiwi, Northern Territory; Princess Alexandra Hospital (Dr Fuentes), Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000902

PMID

27930487

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether non-heat acclimatized (NHA) emergency responders endure greater physiological and perceptual strain than heat acclimatized (HA) counterparts in tropical field settings.

METHODS: Eight HA and eight NHA men urban search and rescue personnel had physiological and perceptual responses compared during the initial 4 hours shift of a simulated disaster in tropical conditions (ambient temperature 34.0 °C, 48% relative humidity, wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT] 31.4 °C).

RESULTS: From the 90th minute through to end of shift, HA (38.5 °C) sustained a significantly higher gastrointestinal temperature than NHA (38.1 °C) (mean difference 0.4 ± 0.2 °C, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2 to 0.7 °C, P = 0.005) despite comparable heart rate (P = 0.30), respiratory rate (P = 0.88), and axilla skin temperature (P = 0.47). Overall, perception of body temperature was similar between cohorts (P = 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS: The apparent tolerance of greater physiological strain by HA responders occurred in the absence of perceptual differences.

Language: en