@article{ref1,
title="Electrocardiographic responses following live-fire firefighting drills",
journal="Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine",
year="2018",
author="Smith, Denise L. and Horn, Gavin P. and Fernhall, Bo and Kesler, Richard M. and Fent, Kenneth W. and Kerber, Stephen and Rowland, Thomas W.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Firefighting-related environmental and physiological factors associated with cardiovascular strain may promote arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia (MI), which induce sudden cardiac events (SCE) in susceptible individuals. The present study evaluated electrocardiographic (ECG) changes that may reflect increased SCE risk following simulated live-firefighting. <br><br>METHODS: Using a repeated measures design, ECG tracings from 32 firefighters were recorded 12-hours post-firefighting (30-minute period) in a residential structure and compared to a 12-hour control period (30-min period). <br><br>RESULTS: Ventricular arrhythmias were present in 20%, and ST segment changes indicative of MI in 16%, of firefighters 12-hours post-firefighting. No such ECG changes were detected in the control group. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Live-firefighting induces significant ECG changes that include ventricular arrhythmias and ST segment changes, which may reflect MI. The implications of such ECG changes explaining increased cardiovascular risk in firefighters warrants further research.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1076-2752",
doi="10.1097/JOM.0000000000001730",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001730"
}