Inflammatory and psychological consequences of chronic high exposure firefighting.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of extreme heat exposure frequency on inflammation and well-being in UK Fire Service personnel.

Methods: 136 Fire personnel and 14 controls (CON) were recruited [92 Firefighters (FF), 44 Breathing Apparatus Instructors (BAI)]. BAI were split into low (LBAI; ≤15 exposures per month) and high (HBAI; ≥20 exposures per month) categories.

Extreme occupational heat exposure is associated with elevated haematological and inflammatory markers in Fire Service Instructors.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Fire service instructors are frequently exposed to live fire scenarios, representing the most extreme chronic occupational heat exposure. These individuals report a series of unique health issues. We sought to identify whether the number of exposures completed was associated with inflammatory and immunological markers and symptoms of ill health.

Heat tolerance of Fire Service Instructors.

Objectives: Fire Service Instructors (FSI) experience repeated fire exposures a median of 13 ± 8 times a month; consequently they may develop an acclimatised state. However, the chronic immunological implications of heat acclimation are yet to be understood. This study aimed to establish whether FSI exhibit an increased heat tolerance and altered immunological response to heat exposures, compared to non-exposed individuals.

Women Firefighters' Health and Well-Being: An International Survey.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify specific health and well-being issues that women firefighters may experience as part of their daily working practices. Issues identified from this under-represented population can drive future research, education, and strategy to guide safety and health practices.

Methods: A total of 840 women firefighters from 14 separate countries (255 United Kingdom and Ireland, 320 North America, 177 Australasia, and 88 mainland Europe) completed the survey over a 4-month period.

A new occupational heat tolerance test: A feasibility study.

Heat tolerance tests identify those susceptible to heat illnesses and monitor heat adaptations. Currently, tolerance tests do not replicate the uncompensable heat strain environments experienced in some occupations. In addition, tests can take up to 2 h to complete, and cannot offer intra and inter individual comparisons, due to the use of a fixed exercise intensity.

The acute effect of training fire exercises on fire service instructors.

Fire service instructors (FSI) regularly experience different types of fire exercises, however the strain experienced from these scenarios is not well understood. This study aims to identify the physiological and perceptual strain of Fire Service Instructors (FSI) to three training exercises: DEMO, ATTACK, COMPARTMENT, and the different roles performed: SETTER, INSTRUCTOR. The study also aims to assess the effect that different exercise patterns over a day (BOX, MULTI, COMBINATION) have on immunological responses.

Practical pre-cooling methods for occupational heat exposure.

This study aimed to identify a pre-cooling method to reduce the physiological and perceptual strain, and the inflammatory response, experienced by individuals who wear personal protective equipment. Eleven males (age 20 ± 2 years, weight 75.8 ± 9.

Fire service instructors' working practices: A UK survey.

Analysis of Fire Service Instructors (FSI) working practices and health is needed to minimise health risks related to heat illness, cardiovascular events and immunological stress. Online surveys were distributed to UK FSI and Firefighters (FF). One hundred and thirty FSI (age: 43 ± 7yrs) and 232 FF (age: 41 ± 8yrs) responded.

Fire service instructor's undergarment choice to reduce Interleukin-6 and minimise physiological and perceptual strain.

Fire Service Instructors frequently experience high levels of physiological and perceptual strain during live fire exposures. Instructors are also at risk of cardiovascular illnesses, with cardiac death being the greatest cause of fire fighter death. Current practice for UK instructors is to select undergarment type based on personal preference, between a boiler suit (BOILER) and a wicking base layer (WBL).

Short-term heat acclimation prior to a multi-day desert ultra-marathon improves physiological and psychological responses without compromising immune status.

Multistage, ultra-endurance events in hot, humid conditions necessitate thermal adaptation, often achieved through short term heat acclimation (STHA), to improve performance by reducing thermoregulatory strain and perceptions of heat stress. This study investigated the physiological, perceptual and immunological responses to STHA prior to the Marathon des Sables. Eight athletes (age 42 ± 4 years and body mass 81.

Visceral leishmaniasis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a traveler returning from a pilgrimage to the Camino de Santiago.

We report the case of a 73-year-old American traveler who presented with 3 weeks of fatigue, fevers, chills, and pancytopenia. Clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with hemophagocytic lymphohystiocytosis (HLH) and bone marrow biopsy revealed amastigotes consistent with visceral leishmaniasis. The range of endemic visceral leishmaniasis transmission now extends into northern Spain and travelers to this region should use personal protective measures against sand fly exposure.