@article{ref1,
title="A quiet firehouse: reducing environmental stimuli among professional on-duty firefighters",
journal="Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine",
year="2018",
author="Carey, Mary G. and Baldzizhar, Aksana N. and Miterko, Cindy R. and Qualls, Brandon W. and Vincent, Rebecca L. and Merrick, Russel and Dean, Grace E.",
volume="60",
number="2",
pages="186-190",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Firehouse alarms are so loud they cause a systemic response, similar to the flight-or-flight response. The purpose of the study was to reduce firehouse environmental stimuli to improve sleep quality and, thus, reduce cardiac burden. <br><br>METHODS: The intervention included: restricted unnecessary fire alarms, reduced light levels, and regulated temperature in the bunkroom. <br><br>RESULTS: Among 24 firefighters, 11 completed the matched post-assessment. Six weeks after implementing the interventions, measures revealed the average lux level dropped from 0.75 to 0.19 lux, p < 0.05 and the presence of elevated blood pressure reduced from 86% to 15%, p < 0.05. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Results support that reducing environmental stimuli in firehouses reduces blood pressure; which is much easier than targeting behavior change. RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on this pilot study, the practice of routinely activating unnecessary fire alarms in firehouse bunkrooms should be discouraged.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1076-2752",
doi="10.1097/JOM.0000000000001199",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001199"
}