Impact of fire protective equipment and the self-contained breathing apparatus on peak exercise in males and females.

With an increase in the number of females entering the fire service it is important to understand the potential impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) on females. This study compared selected physiological responses during two graded exercise tests (GXT) performed in a counterbalanced design: GXT - wearing athletic clothing while breathing through a low-resistance valve; and GXT - wearing PPE and breathing from a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Sixteen males and 15 females acted as participants.

Physiological responses to treadmill exercise in size- and fitness-matched male and female firefighter applicants.

Physiological responses during a standardised treadmill test for structural firefighting employment were compared in 41 pairs of size-matched, male and female applicants. Applicants wore personal exercise clothing, running shoes, and fire protective ensemble with self-contained breathing apparatus (added mass 21.2 ± 1.

The Validity and Reliability of a Treadmill Test for Structural Firefighter Applicants.

Objective: This 2-part study evaluated validity and reliability of a treadmill test for structural firefighters.

Methods: Wearing fire protective ensemble, 260 participants walked at 1.56 m·s-1, completing a 5-min warm-up, an 8-min stage at a 5.

Evidence for Validity and Reliability, and Development of Performance Standards and Cut-Scores for Job-Related Tests of Physical Aptitude for Structural Firefighters.

Objective: This multi-part study aimed to revise an existing battery of physical aptitude tests for firefighter applicants. Test validity and reliability were evaluated and performance thresholds were determined.

Methods: In Part I, 49 structural firefighters rated the similarity between the physical demands of the tests and corresponding work activities.

Oxygen cost of the CF-DND fire fit test in males and females.

The Department of National Defence employs a work-related test circuit comprising 10 various firefighting tasks (FF test) to assess the fitness of incumbent Canadian Forces firefighters. The main purpose of this study was to document the oxygen cost of the FF test over a wide range of performance times. These data were then used to predict the oxygen cost associated with the 8 min completion standard.

Effects of the self-contained breathing apparatus and fire protective clothing on maximal oxygen uptake.

To examine the effects of firefighting personal protective ensemble (PPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on exercise performance, 12 males completed two randomly ordered, graded exercise treadmill tests (GXTPPE and GXTPT). Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) during GXTPPE was 17.3% lower than the GXTPT in regular exercise clothing (43.