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Occupational stress, intention to quit, and burnout are global issues that have the potential to undermine the performance and reputation of organizations. In this context, demographic factors are also considered determinants of these phenomena. This study was conducted to examine the differences in demographic characteristics in occupational stress, intention to quit, and burnout. Specifically, the study hypothesized the presence of a significant influence of demographic factors such as age, length of service, and marital status on occupational stress, intention to quit, and burnout among firefighters in Malaysia. Data for this study were collected from 234 firefighters in Malaysia using a questionnaire. Subsequently, the data were analyzed through descriptive and regression analysis using SPSS software version 27. The findings of this study indicate a significant difference in these demographic characteristics in job stress, intention to quit, and burnout. Consistent with the literature review, the study's results demonstrate that demographic characteristics also influence job stress, intention to quit, and burnout. In practical terms, this study suggests that organizations should strengthen intervention programs such as effective supervision and psychological support services based on employees' demographic characteristics to minimize the occupational stress and intention to quit and address burnout in the workplace. These initiatives not only assist organizations in retaining their best talent but also improve mental wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from the theory of met expectations, this study aims to create new knowledge on the antecedents of follower trust in leaders in the context of high-reliability organizations. We hypothesize that highly self-controlled leaders instill more trust than leaders with less self-control, as the former tend to meet follower expectations. This work combines data from a field survey (N = 256) and a multi-wave field study (N = 106), using samples of professional firefighters to support our hypotheses that met follower expectations mediate the relationship between leader trait self-control and follower trust in the leader. Our research highlights the importance of met expectations in high-reliability contexts and demonstrates the value of leader trait self-control in building trustful relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows that exposure to high environmental temperatures can affect task performance. Theoretical explanations outline that heat is a source of stress that competes for limited-capacity resources, therefore if a task is resource-intensive, and/or if heat stress is extreme, performance will suffer. One occupation in which individuals complete demanding tasks and make difficult decisions, often in temperatures exceeding 200°C, is firefighting. Yet very little is currently known about the impact of heat stress on the cognitive functioning of firefighters. This short review summarizes the limited research in this area, focusing on studies that measured cognition of firefighters following a realistic training exercise. The findings are mixed with evidence that heat stress improves, impairs, and has no impact on cognitive functioning. While there are differences in the firefighting activities utilized, and the temperatures that participants were exposed to, it is argued that the varied findings can be attributed to the tasks used to assess cognitive processing, and the cognitive functions being measured. In accordance with the wider field of research, it is concluded that complex functioning, such as sustained attention, vigilance, and working memory is negatively impacted by acute exposure to extreme heat. Greater understanding of factors affecting cognition would inform safety practices and more research is needed to understand how and when heat stress may influence cognition in firefighting scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to relate processed and ultra-processed food consumption to the nutritional status of firefighters. Method: quantitative cross-sectional study carried out from March to October 2023. The sample was for convenience and consisted of 14 firefighters from the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul. Secondary data from a nutrition outpatient clinic were used, considering the variables age, sex, food consumption, physical activity level, weight, height, body mass index and fat percentage. The Fisher's Exact and Student's t-tests were applied. Results: participants were overweight (78.6%), with 45.6% having an average consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, and 42.9% of the sample had a below-average fat percentage. The percentage of energy consumed through ultra-processed and processed foods was associated with moderately active and poorly active firefighters (p=0.045) and those classified with an above-average fat percentage (p=0.011). Conclusion: most firefighters were overweight and had a body fat percentage below or above average. Processed and ultra-processed food consumption was significantly higher among less active participants and those with an above-average fat percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firefighters are severely impacted by climate events, yet they are an underexamined population with regard to climate change research. This systematic review aims to synthesize the existing literature on the psychological effects of wildfire events on firefighters and to discuss some of the major gaps in disaster research relating to first responders and their mental health. A thorough search of the existing literature through June 2023 on the topic of wildfires and first responder psychological health was conducted through the databases PubMed, PsychINFO, and Embase. This search yielded 13 final studies which met the exclusion and inclusion criteria for this review. The final studies consisted of populations that responded to wildfire events from four different countries (two from Israel, one from Canada, two from Greece, and eight from Australia). The data gathered by this review suggest that firefighters may experience many environmental and occupational exposures during wildfire suppression, which are linked to an increased risk of PTSD and other psychological symptoms even months after the event. This review brings to light the need for further research of the compounded effect of the environmental and psychological exposures of first responders and the potential psychological effects of those exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: High-risk professionals and specialised nurses in hospitals are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic events. Psychotrauma researchers have extensively studied personal risk factors of traumatisation among high-risk professionals, but it is hard to understand psychological functioning when professionals are decontextualised from their social environment. Generally, it has been well documented that to reduce the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health problems related to traumatisation, it is essential to be embedded in a supportive social environment. However, study results among and within these occupational groups show great variety and even inconsistencies as to what is a supportive social environment. Method: This ethnographical research, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis, explored the social environment of firefighters, police officers, ambulance paramedics, specialised nurses, and military personnel and aims to explore their social connections and embeddedness. We performed a thematic content analysis of data to identify themes related to social or emotional support, social relationships, and stress or traumatisation. Results: An analysis of the observational field notes, which covered 332 h of participant observation and 71 evenly distributed formal in-depth interviews, identified four themes related to social connections and embeddedness: Family, Hierarchical relations versus autonomy, Group versus individual, and Conditional family ‘love’. Results revealed that the military, police, and professional firefighters have family-like hierarchical connections and highly value group unity. Paramedics and most specialised nurses, however, tend to value individuality and autonomy in their work relationships. Conclusion: This research shows noticeable differences in the social environments and social connections of these professionals, which implicates that prevention and mental health treatment might also have to be differentiated among occupational groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medicina y Seguridad del Trabajo is the property of Escuela Nacional de Medicina del Trabajo - Instituto de Salud Carlos III and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Religación: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades is the property of Religacion: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Firefighters require good cardiorespiratory fitness for safe occupational performance. On shift workplace based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improved fitness by a similar amount compared to more time-intensive traditional exercise. HIIT should be considered a time-efficient exercise strategy to increase and maintain firefighter fitness to promote good health in the workplace. Objective: For a cohort of operational firefighters, we assessed the effects of workplace-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness. Methods: Fifteen firefighters performed HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training for 4 weeks. Outcomes were peak oxygen uptake, time trial performance, and affective (pleasure/displeasure) responses to exercise. Results: There was an increase in peak oxygen uptake for both conditions, although this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.06, η 2 = 0.26) and time trial performance improved for both groups (2%, P < 0.01, η 2 = 0.51). Affective responses were more favorable for HIIT, but both conditions avoided excessive sensations of displeasure. Conclusion: Results suggest that workplace-based HIIT improved fitness and performance to a similar magnitude to moderate-intensity continuous training while avoiding overly negative affective responses and could improve occupational health of firefighters, despite reduced time commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firefighters are at a higher risk for experiencing back pain due to the nature of their job, but physical fitness may help to reduce this risk. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation between subjective back pain severity and core muscular endurance exists in firefighters. A secondary purpose was to determine if age or body composition were correlated with back pain severity. This cross-sectional study was performed at a fire department during their Physical Fitness Assessment Program and included 72 male firefighters. Measures included weight, body fat percentage, maximal plank hold times for core muscular endurance, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. A Pearson product correlation analysis was performed between back pain score and each of the following variables: body fat percentage, BMI, age, and plank hold times. A second set of correlation coefficient analyses was performed between the same variables exclusively in subjects who reported back pain. This study found that, within this population of firefighters, there was no significant correlation between back pain and plank times or body composition variables, although there was a trend toward significant correlations between BMI and body fat percentage when only subjects with back pain were considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on the physical and mental health of firefighters indicates higher risk of coronary disease, stroke, cancer, hearing loss, and decreased mobility, as well as suicide risk, depression, anxiety, and substance use than in the general population. In spite of this, there is minimal research available on evidence-based interventions to reduce the impact of high-stress and high-trauma work on the mental health and well-being of firefighters. In collaboration with the Salt Lake City Fire Department, we conducted a feasibility study to understand how psychological resilience training influences the mental and social health of firefighters. A pre-intervention survey (n = 186) provided baseline data on firefighters' mental health and wellbeing. Domains measured were depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, suicide risk, willingness to attend couple's therapy, and quality of life. Three hundred firefighters then received three 90-minute training sessions on MindShield™, a newly-developed trauma-informed, mindfulness-based intervention. Analysis of measurement instrument completion rates suggests firefighters were amenable to the process, though concerns about data privacy may have inhibited response on certain instruments. Qualitative data derived from four post-intervention focus groups (n = 33) informed recommendations for future intervention delivery: shorter training sessions, leaving the training with a tangible reminder of the MindShield™ tools, embedding firefighters more into the training presentation, and clarifying data access and privacy protocols. Both the intervention and measurement tools used were generally well-received, indicating MindShield™ is a feasible intervention to mitigate the impact of high-stress, high-trauma work on firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress affects learning during training, and virtual reality (VR) based training systems that manipulate stress can improve retention and retrieval performance for firefighters. Brain imaging using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) can facilitate development of VR-based adaptive training systems that can continuously assess the trainee's states of learning and cognition. Objective: The aim of this study was to model the neural dynamics associated with learning and retrieval under stress in a VR-based emergency response training exercise. Methods: Forty firefighters underwent an emergency shutdown training in VR and were randomly assigned to either a control or a stress group. The stress group experienced stressors including smoke, fire, and explosions during the familiarization and training phase. Both groups underwent a stress memory retrieval and no-stress memory retrieval condition. Participant's performance scores, fNIRS-based neural activity, and functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and motor regions were obtained for the training and retrieval phases. Results: The performance scores indicate that the rate of learning was slower in the stress group compared to the control group, but both groups performed similarly during each retrieval condition. Compared to the control group, the stress group exhibited suppressed PFC activation. However, they showed stronger connectivity within the PFC regions during the training and between PFC and motor regions during the retrieval phases. Discussion: While stress impaired performance during training, adoption of stress-adaptive neural strategies (i.e., stronger brain connectivity) were associated with comparable performance between the stress and the control groups during the retrieval phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Firefighter-specific musculoskeletal models were developed to quantify loads. • Carrying SCBA increased firefighters' rectus femoris force, hip and knee exertion. • Adjusting shoulder strap length is an effective ergonomic intervention. • Targeting physical training at firefighters' lower limb is suggested. • Compatibility design of the trunk morphology and back-mounted frame is needed. Introduction : Musculoskeletal loading data are needed to design ergonomic intervention for firefighters. This study aimed to quantify the firefighters' musculoskeletal loads during self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) carriage and evaluate the effectiveness of shoulder strap length variation for the prevention of SCBA-related injuries. Method: Twelve firefighters (height: 174.6 ± 2.4 cm, mass: 67 ± 3.5 kg, BMI = 22 ± 1 kg/m2) participated the walking and running protocols with no SCBA equipped and three varying-strapped SCBAs conditions. Joint range of motion and surface electromyography (sEMG) were synchronously measured. Subsequently, joint kinematics was inputted for subject-specific musculoskeletal modeling to estimate muscle forces and joint reaction forces, while the sEMG was used to validate the model. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for the main effects (p < 0.05). Independent samples t -test was performed to determine differences between walking and running. Results: Walking with SCBA increased the rectus femoris force and hip reaction force by 34.92% [ F = 53.629; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.317] and 34.71% [ F = 53.653; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.517], the growth rate was 54.2% [ F = 76.487; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.418] and 51.19% [ F = 69.201; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.652] during running, respectively. Running with SCBA significantly increased the knee reaction force by 63.04% [ F = 83.960; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.797], while only 18.49% increase during walking. Adjusting SCBA shoulder strap length significantly altered the rectus abdominis force and L4/L5 reaction force during walking and running. Conclusions: Results revealed that rectus femoris activity, hip and knee exertion was sensitive to SCBA carriage. The variation of shoulder strap length has potential to influence the risk of low back pain (LBP). Practical applications: The findings suggest that fire services promote targeting physical training at firefighters' hip and knee regions. Test firefighters in this study were not advisable to adjust their shoulder strap at loose-fitting condition. The compatibility design of the trunk morphology and SCBA back-mounted frame was suggested for the management of LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired cardiovascular health is a concern for firefighters, with over 50% of line-of-duty deaths having cardiac causes. Many firefighters have hypertension and <25% have their blood pressure (BP) controlled. The alarm response could be an unidentified cardiac risk, but interestingly, the BP response to different calls and on-the-job activity is unknown. We aimed to measure the physiological stress resulting from different call types (fire, medical) and job activity (riding apparatus, pre-alert alarms) through ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring in a population of firefighters. During 111 12-h work shifts firefighters wore an ABP monitor. BP was measured at 30-min intervals and manual measurements were prompted when the pager went off or whenever they felt stress. Firefighters were hypertensive (124.3 ± 9.9/78.1 ± 6.7 mmHg), overweight (30.2 ± 4.6 kg/m2), middle-aged (40.5 ± 12.6 years) and experienced (17.3 ± 11.7 years). We calculated an average 11% increase in systolic and 10.5% increase in diastolic BP with alarm. Systolic BP (141.9 ± 13.2 mmHg) and diastolic BP (84.9 ± 11.1 mmHg) and the BP surges were higher while firefighters were responding to medical calls compared to fire calls. Between BP groups we found that medical call systolic BP (p =.001, d = 1.2), diastolic BP (p =.017, d = 0.87), and fire call systolic BP (p =.03, d = 0.51) levels were higher in the hypertensive firefighters. This is the first report of BP surge responses to alarms and to occupational activities in firefighters, and medical calls elicited the largest overall responses. Cardiovascular disease and impaired cardiovascular health are substantially more prevalent in firefighters, with over 50% of line-of-duty deaths being cardiac related. Many firefighters are diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), which is known to increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, and other serious health complications. Upon stress, our body enacts the 'fight or flight' response where sympathetic nervous system activity triggers an immediate increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This response can be dangerous when surges reach extreme levels due to underlying impaired cardiovascular function. It is known that alarm sounds trigger a stress response. Firefighters respond to different alarms while on the job, each indicating different call types, such as a house fire or a medical emergency. Due to the prevalence of impaired cardiovascular health in firefighters, the physical stress resulting from these alerts is cause for concern. The blood pressure surge response to different call types and job activities in healthy and hypertensive firefighters had not been measured before this study. Through the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring of 111 on-duty firefighters, this study discovered that medical calls caused the greatest blood pressure and heart rate surge. Also, firefighters with hypertension experienced a greater blood pressure surge in response to alarms than their non-hypertensive co-workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firefighters are exposed to dangerous and often traumatic events due to the nature of their occupational demands. This repeated exposure to trauma combined with stressful work demands increases their risk for negative physiological and psychological health outcomes. The high prevalence of adverse health outcomes highlights the need for interventions to improve resiliency in firefighters. Resiliency is the ability to reduce the effect of crisis, rebound from adversity, and recover to pre-stimulus homeostasis. When traumatic exposures are unavoidable, as is the case with firefighters, it is important to buffer the resulting consequences on health. While resilience has a genetic component, interventions targeting physiological, psychological, and social components have been successful at improving resilience. These factors are of specific interest as increases in resilience have been linked to improved PTSD symptomology/severity, depression, anxiety, autonomic nervous system activation, hypothalamus–pituitary axis balance, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to identify physiological and psychological components associated with resiliency and discuss strategies that may improve those components to ultimately increase resiliency in firefighters. The strategies discussed include exercise, social support, and mindfulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Firefighters are routinely exposed to loud noise that put them at risk for hearing loss. A reliable and valid measure to assess firefighters' hearing function is important. This study aims to test the reliability and validity of the modified Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap ((m)AIADH) in firefighters. Method: A cross‐sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 239 career firefighters from six partnered fire departments in Central Texas and Northern California. The internal consistency, convergent and criterion validity, and the ability to discriminate groups by measured hearing, perceived hearing, and a combination of measured and perceived hearing, were examined using the total score and score for each of the five subscales of the (m)AIADH. Results: The study participants were primarily men (93%). Satisfactory internal consistency was revealed for the (m)AIADH with Cronbach's alpha above 0.80 for all five subscales. Criterion analysis presented a moderate correlation between the (m)AIADH and the average of hearing threshold at high frequencies (4, 6, and 8 kHz). For convergent validity, the (m)AIADH was moderately to highly related with perceived hearing. There were statistically significant differences in the total (m)AIADH score and the five subscales for measured hearing thresholds except for "intelligibility in quiet." The (m)AIADH also showed a discriminative ability to distinguish between the group with good perceived hearing and the group with bad perceived hearing. Conclusion: The (m)AIADH is a reliable and valid measure to assess various dimensions of hearing function among firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posture mechanics during fire suppression tasks are associated with musculoskeletal injuries in firefighters. Methods: This study uses the Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (OWAS) ergonomics tool to describe and evaluate the postures of 48 firefighters during 3 simulated tasks: (a) hose drag, (b) hose pull, and (c) high-rise pack lift. Ergonomics intervention prioritizations based on the OWAS action classification (AC) scores were identified using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Chi-square analyses identified associations between firefighter characteristics and OWAS AC scores. Findings: The initial hose pick-up phase of each task was identified as a high priority for ergonomics intervention (OWAS AC = 4) in 45.8%, 54.2%, and 45.8% of cases for Tasks 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Lower BMI was associated with higher AC scores for the initial hose pick-up during Task 3 (likelihood ratio = 9.20, p value =.01). Conclusion: The results inform ergonomics priorities for firefighter training based on the tasks analyzed. Application to Practice : This study evaluates the posture mechanics of three commonly performed firefighting tasks. The results help inform an ergonomics training intervention focused on posture mechanics during occupational activities for firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arquivos de Ciências da Saúde da UNIPAR is the property of Associacao Paranaense de Ensino e Cultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Firefighting is recognised as a profession where health and well-being can be affected by a variety of occupational factors, such as physical, thermal, and chemical stressors. Along with the risks intuitively associated with the fire service, however, psychosocial stress has begun to attract attention as another variable deserving of consideration. Indeed, long-term exposure to work-related psychosocial stress has been linked with poor health outcomes in many workers; however, despite this association, very little has been done to examine how such stressors become biologically embedded in firefighters. To help facilitate research into how psychosocial stress can affect health-related outcomes in the fire service, we propose a framework centered on the notion of allostatic load. First, we reviewed the occupational characteristics that may generate psychosocial stress within firefighters before introducing allostatic load (that is, dysregulation across various physiological systems caused by the need to manage ongoing stressors). Next, we provided a summary of how allostatic load can be measured and touched on the framework's utility for studying the cumulative effects of work-related stress on firefighter health. After this, factors that may influence the steps leading from stress exposure to health outcomes were discussed; in particular, we commented upon how research in this area should consider specific non-modifiable (age, sex, and ethnicity) and modifiable (psychosocial resources and behavioural habits) factors. Finally, we presented methodological barriers and opportunities that may arise when using the allostatic load framework with this professional group. By introducing the framework, we hope to provide a tool that may be used by those interested in stress-health research in firefighters to build the evidence needed to inform primary prevention measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, wildfires accentuated by global warming, cause economic and ecological losses, and often, human casualties. Increasing operational capacity of firefighter crews is of utmost importance to better face the forest fire period that yearly occurs. In this study, we investigate the real-world firefighters timetabling problem of the INFOCA institution, Andalusia (Spain). The main issue is to achieve maximum operational capability while taking into account work regulation constraints. This paper proposes an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation that makes it feasible to solve small/medium instances to optimality. We put forward a matheuristic (ILPH) based on the ILP formulation, and we obtain solutions for larger instances. We propose an Adaptive Large Neighbourhood Search metaheuristic (ALNS) to obtain better results for larger instances and we use a version of the ILPH as one of the constructive methods. The ALNS obtains all the optimal solutions found by the ILP on small instances. It yields better solutions than the ILPH matheuristic on larger instances within shorter processing times. We report on experiments performed on datasets generated using real-world data of the INFOCA institution. The work was initiated as part of the GEO-SAFE project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Postural imbalance can result from hyperthermia-mediated muscular fatigue and is a major factor contributing to injuries from falling. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise-induced hyperthermia and the impact of cooling on postural balance while wearing fire-fighters' protective clothing (FPC) in a hot environment. Methods. A portable force platform measured postural balance characterized by postural sway patterns using center of pressure metrics. Twelve healthy, physically fit males were recruited to stand on the force platform once with eyes open and once with eyes closed before and after treadmill exercise (40% ...O2max) inside an environmental chamber under hot and humid conditions (30 °C and 70% relative humidity) while wearing FPC. Subjects participated in two randomly assigned experimental phases: control and cooling intervention. Results. A significant increase in physiological responses and postural balance metrics was observed after exercising in the heat chamber while wearing FPC. Cooling resulted in a significant effect only on postural sway speed after exercise-induced hyperthermia. Conclusions. Hyperthermia can negatively alter postural balance metrics, which may lead to an increased likelihood of falling. The utilization of body cooling reduced the thermal strain but had limited impact on postural balance stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Correct evaluation of safe heat exposure distance (SHED) in wildland fire environments improves the safety and efficiency of firefighting operation. However, there is a lack of standard test method for the SHED, let alone the influencing factors of the SHED. Aims. The aim of this study was to develop a novel method to examine the SHED by considering clothing and fire factors under thermal radiation condition. Methods. We developed a new experimental apparatus for evaluating the SHED of firefighters in fire environments. The testing accuracy and repeatability was verified by calibration and measurement results. The evaluation method was used to investigate the influences of heating source temperature and fabric combination on the SHED, and reveal the relationship between the SHED and safe heat exposure time (SHET). Key results. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the heating source temperature and the SHED. When the heating source temperature increased from 200 to 550℃, the SHED of three single-layer fabrics increased by more than 1.23 times. The SHED was negatively correlated with the reflectance, grammage and thickness of the fabric. The SHET increased with the heating source distance, and the rising rate increased gradually. Implications. The findings obtained in this study can be used to provide theoretical support for determining the SHED during fire rescue, and to help engineer clothing that provides higher protection for firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental ill-health in older adults (aged 60 years and over) is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Older adults are less likely to access mental health services owing to perceived stigma and fear of being a burden. Non-traditional providers of health care, such as the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), provide a possible solution to facilitate early detection of problems and help-seeking among older adults, especially in the context of pressured statutory services. Aim: To examine whether and how FRS Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) could be optimised to include detection and signposting for mental health problems -- particularly anxiety and depression -- in older adults. Design & setting: This mixed-method qualitative study took place in the West Midlands, UK in 2022. Method: This study involved focus groups (n = 24) and interviews with FRS staff (n = 4) to develop an in-depth contextual understanding of he acceptability and feasibility of expanding HFSV to include identification of anxiety and depression. Results: FRS staff were open to expanding their HFSVs to include mental health, provided they had sufficient training and support from partner agencies in primary and social care settings to accept referrals for service users presenting with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Conclusion: The positive reputation of FRS staff and engagement with older adults suggests that HFSV could support the detection of anxiety and depression in older adults, and appropriate signposting to other services including primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionFirefighters are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during fire suppression, but the extent of PAH penetration through turnout gear and its impact on blood cell components remains uncertain. The main objective of this study is to investigate the residual levels of PAHs on turnout gear and skin, and to assess their potential effects on blood cell components in firefighters. We hypothesize that firefighting activities lead to increased PAH exposure, which in turn may induce alterations in blood cell composition. We also hypothesize that differences in PAH exposure and corresponding blood cell changes will be observed between volunteer and career firefighters.MethodsForty-seven firefighters were recruited from 11 fire departments in Oklahoma. PAH levels on gear and skin were measured, and complete blood count (CBC) parameters were analyzed. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to examine differences in PAH exposures and hematological profiles between volunteer and career firefighters and possible changes over time. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were performed to assess the relationships between PAHs and blood cells.ResultsOur analysis revealed significant hematological differences between volunteer and career firefighters, with volunteers exhibiting lower aerobic capacity and higher systemic inflammation. Increased levels of specific PAHs were found on volunteers' gear post-fire.ConclusionOur findings indicate an association between PAH exposure and changes in blood parameters, emphasizing the need for improved decontamination protocols and protective measures, particularly for volunteer firefighters.

Firefighters are exposed to dangerous and often traumatic events due to the nature of their occupational demands. This repeated exposure to trauma combined with stressful work demands increases their risk for negative physiological and psychological health outcomes. The high prevalence of adverse health outcomes highlights the need for interventions to improve resiliency in firefighters. Resiliency is the ability to reduce the effect of crisis, rebound from adversity, and recover to pre-stimulus homeostasis. When traumatic exposures are unavoidable, as is the case with firefighters, it is important to buffer the resulting consequences on health. While resilience has a genetic component, interventions targeting physiological, psychological, and social components have been successful at improving resilience. These factors are of specific interest as increases in resilience have been linked to improved PTSD symptomology/severity, depression, anxiety, autonomic nervous system activation, hypothalamus–pituitary axis balance, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to identify physiological and psychological components associated with resiliency and discuss strategies that may improve those components to ultimately increase resiliency in firefighters. The strategies discussed include exercise, social support, and mindfulness.

Firefighters are at a higher risk for experiencing back pain due to the nature of their job, but physical fitness may help to reduce this risk. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation between subjective back pain severity and core muscular endurance exists in firefighters. A secondary purpose was to determine if age or body composition were correlated with back pain severity. This cross-sectional study was performed at a fire department during their Physical Fitness Assessment Program and included 72 male firefighters. Measures included weight, body fat percentage, maximal plank hold times for core muscular endurance, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. A Pearson product correlation analysis was performed between back pain score and each of the following variables: body fat percentage, BMI, age, and plank hold times. A second set of correlation coefficient analyses was performed between the same variables exclusively in subjects who reported back pain. This study found that, within this population of firefighters, there was no significant correlation between back pain and plank times or body composition variables, although there was a trend toward significant correlations between BMI and body fat percentage when only subjects with back pain were considered.

INTRODUCTION: Firefighting is a demanding profession that requires physical strength, mental fortitude, and unwavering dedication. While firefighters are known for their bravery and heroism, it is essential to recognize the potential impact of their work on their mental health. This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression and contributing factors among firefighter in Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 250 full-time professional firefighters, and used the Beck anxiety inventory and the Beck depression inventory forms for data collection. The chi-square analysis method was used to compare categorical data. Predictors of anxiety and depression were determined using a univariate binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: The mean age, BAI score and BDI score of the participants were 43.7±11.4, 5.9±8.1, and 6.2±8.8, respectively. The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 10.8%, and 9.6%, respectively. The prevalence of anxiety (p=0.007) and depression (p=0.008) among participants with chronic diseases was higher than among participants without chronic diseases. The identified predictors of anxiety were smoking (OR 4.873, 95% CI 1.293-18.419, p=0.019) and depression (OR 11.411, 95% CI 3.861-33.772, p=0.001). The identified predictors of depression were alcohol consumption (OR 2.722, 95% CI 1.072-6.872, p=0.034) and chronic disease (OR 2.582, 95% CI 1.031-6.532, p=0.044). CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that anxiety and depression as very common psychiatric problems among firefighters, more prevalent among those working in the city center, smokers, alcohol consumers, verbal violence victims, and those with chronic diseases.

INTRODUCTION: For firefighters to respond effectively and safely in challenging situations, their protective gear must offer maximum protection, comfort, and ergonomics. While this gear protects against high temperatures, it can pose risks in other scenarios. Specialised attire safeguards against fires but can be perilous in localised threats, potentially life-threatening. This is associated with increased internal body temperature, causing rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, increased blood flow and pressure, substantial sweating, and loss of essential elements. The study aimed to compare physical stress levels at high and low ambient temperatures and examine the variations in measured parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study assesses how working in high temperature conditions wearing firefighter gear affects physical and psychological abilities and recovery between tasks. It evaluates participants' well-being before and after the study, years of service, protective gear comfort, fluid intake, alternatives to standard gear, and recovery time. It uses questionnaires and measurements of vital signs (body temperature, weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate) before and after physical exertion. RESULTS: A total of 152 participants participated in this study, with 30 during the winter season and 122 in the summer. The human body releases heat through convection, conduction, radiation, and evaporation. Maintaining normothermia is challenging at high temperatures. In summer, participants' weight increased due to sweating. After exertion, blood pressure diverged significantly, with the summer group showing a notable increase in systolic pressure, which stressed the need for hydration. Blood oxygen levels increased during exertion but normalised after rest. Pulse rates were similar at rest but significantly increased in the summer group after exertion, highlighting the importance of caution and hydration at high temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of collected data, including medical assessments and surveys, clearly demonstrates the significant impact of working in high temperature conditions on the vital parameters of the participants. Prolonged heat exposure, primarily due to the insulating properties of specialised gear and resulting thermal discomfort, accelerates fatigue and exhaustion. This, in turn, leads to increased errors, slower responses, and potential health problems. To address this concern, the introduction of lighter uniform options, adjustments to legal regulations, and the inclusion of overheating risks in medical protocols should be considered as preventive measures.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic represented a unique stressful event that affected the physical health and psychological well-being (PWB) of individuals and communities. Monitoring PWB is essential not only to clarify the burden on mental health effects but also to define targeted psychological-supporting measures. This cross-sectional study evaluated the PWB of Italian firefighters during the pandemic. Methods: Firefighters recruited during the pandemic period filled out a self-administered questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, during the health surveillance medical examination. This tool is usually used to assess the global PWB and explores six subdomains: anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, and vitality. The influencing roles of age, gender, working activities, COVID-19, and pandemic restrictive measures were also explored. Results: A total of 742 firefighters completed the survey. The aggregate median PWB global score was in the “no distress” range (94.3 ± 10.3), which was higher than that observed in studies conducted using the same tool in the Italian general population during the same pandemic period. Similar findings were observed in the specific subdomains, thus suggesting that the investigated population was in good PWB condition. Interestingly, significantly better outcomes were detected in the younger firefighters. Conclusion: Our data showed a satisfactory PWB situation in firefighters that could be related to different professional factors such as work organization and mental and physical training. In particular, our results would suggest the hypothesis that in firefighters, maintaining a minimum/moderate level of physical activity (consisting of even just going to work) might have a profoundly positive impact on psychological health and well-being.

Occupational exposures to flame retardants (FRs), a class of suspected endocrine-disrupting compounds, are of health concern for firefighters. We sought to characterize exposure to FR compounds and evaluate their association with thyroid hormone levels, a biomarker of early effect, in female firefighters and office workers in San Francisco. In a cross-sectional study, we measured replacement organophosphate and organohalogen FRs in spot urine samples from firefighters (N = 86) and office workers (N = 84), as well as total thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone in plasma for 84 firefighters and 81 office workers. Median bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (BDCPP) levels were 5 times higher in firefighters than office workers. Among firefighters, a doubling of BDCPP was associated with a 2.88% decrease (95% confidence interval -5.28, -0.42) in T4. We did not observe significant associations between FRs and T4 among office workers. In the full group, intermediate body mass index and a college education were associated with higher FR levels. The inverse association observed between FRs and T4 coupled with the lack of studies on women workers and evidence of adverse health effects from FR exposure─including endocrine disruption and breast cancer risk─warrant further research on occupational exposures and identification of opportunities for exposure reduction.

Although applied sport psychology services have traditionally been provided in athletic settings, there has been a trend toward a more general application across different performance domains and, in particular, with tactical populations (i.e., military, law enforcement, and firefighters). The purpose of the current study was to systematically review the existing research on mental qualities and techniques in tactical populations. A database search revealed 7,220 potentially relevant articles, which were screened by two independent reviewers based on predefined inclusion criteria. This systematic screening process helped to identify 49 articles for further analysis. The findings highlight the benefits of developing mental qualities and techniques among tactical populations, as they can help to nurture a range of positive cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes. Yet, this review also indicates gaps and limitations that need to be addressed in future research to gain a better understanding of the antecedents, mediators, and consequences of these psychological constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEnvironmental chemical exposures can affect telomere length, which in turn has been associated with adverse health outcomes including cancer. Firefighters are occupationally exposed to many hazardous chemicals and have higher rates of certain cancers. As a potential biomarker of effect, we assessed associations between chemical exposures and telomere length in women firefighters and office workers from San Francisco, CA.MethodsWe measured serum concentrations of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), urinary metabolites of flame retardants, including organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), and telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes in women firefighters (N = 84) and office workers (N = 79) who participated in the 2014-15 Women Workers Biomonitoring Collaborative. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between chemical exposures and telomere length.ResultsRegression results revealed significant positive associations between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and telomere length and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and telomere length among the whole cohort. Models stratified by occupation showed stronger and more significant associations among firefighters as compared to office workers. Among firefighters in models adjusted for age, we found positive associations between telomere length and log-transformed PFOA (β (95%CI) = 0.57(0.12, 1.02)), PFOS (0.44 (0.05, 0.83)), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (0.43 (0.02, 0.84)). Modeling PFAS as categories of exposure showed significant associations between perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and telomere length among firefighters. Significant associations between OPFR metabolites and telomere length were seen for bis (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP) and telomere length among office workers (0.21(0.03, 0.40)) and bis (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP) and telomere length among firefighters (- 0.14(- 0.28, - 0.01)). For OPFRs, the difference in the direction of effect by occupational group may be due to the disparate detection frequencies and concentrations of exposure between the two groups and/or potential unmeasured confounding.ConclusionOur findings suggest positive associations between PFAS and telomere length in women workers, with larger effects seen among firefighters as compared to office workers. The OPFR metabolites BDCPP and BCEP are also associated with telomere length in firefighters and office workers. Associations between chemical exposures and telomere length reported here and by others suggest mechanisms by which these chemicals may affect carcinogenesis and other adverse health outcomes.

This study sets out to analyze the negative effects of tokenism among a group of Portuguese female firefighters alongside the strategies they adopt to integrate into a male majority professional context and inherently associated with masculinity. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine men and nine women before their content was subject to thematic analysis. The results confirm how, in the context of the work performed by firefighters, there is a clear differentiation between the genders, with women both being more visible and leading to conformity to depicting stereotypical femininity. In order to fit in, female firefighters attempt to replicate the attitudes of their male colleagues, demonstrate high standards of performance, and tone down any expression of perceivably feminine characteristics.

Wildland firefighting represents a physically and mentally demanding endeavour fraught with various risk factors. The primary aim of this study is to delineate occupational chemical exposure within the firefighting work environment on the firefront and its implications for firefighters’ health status. A systematic literature review was conducted utilising diverse keyword combinations across Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and ScienceDirect databases. Only English-language journal articles, real-world monitoring reports, and studies featuring samples of firefighters were considered for inclusion. Forty-one studies were analysed, with 26 focusing on firefighters’ occupational exposure to chemical agents during wildland firefighting and 15 addressing the health impairments of wildland firefighting activities. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), VOCs, and particulates emerged as the most prevalent chemical agents in the exposure profiles of frontline firefighters. They were shown to be the main incidents of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and work-related cancer. The rigorous demands of wildland firefighting have been demonstrated to significantly impact firefighter health, resulting in a notable prevalence of fatalities and illnesses. Given that an elevated number of health issues are common in this occupation, adopting advanced assessment technologies is imperative.

Firefighters have demanding jobs, requiring high levels of fitness in stressful situations for operational readiness, yet many firefighters are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diet is an important factor contributing to the development of CVD. The purpose of this study was to describe the dietary intake of firefighters and examine the associations between dietary intake and the CVD risk. Forty-six male career firefighters (age = 41.2 ± 11.2 years; BMI = 29.2 ± 4.1 kg/m2; body fat = 21.7 ± 6.1%) enrolled in a fitness-focused wellness program completed a health survey and a fitness assessment. The survey responses and fitness assessment were used to calculate the Framingham CVD Risk Score. Data were analyzed using R, the residual assumptions were verified, and the alpha level was set at 0.05. The results revealed that firefighters consume a standard American diet, with the overconsumption of meat and underconsumption of fruits and vegetables. The average CVD risk approached the upper limit of low risk. The results also indicate that meat servings and preparation fat affect the CVD risk (R2 = 0.21, p = 0.006). The outcomes of this study can inform investigations aimed at improving operational readiness and reducing the CVD risk in firefighters by implementing a holistic approach combining dietary interventions with physical training.

Firefighters are exposed to hazardous chemicals at fire scenes, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among many others, which pose significant health risks. Current laundering practices are ineffective at removing persistent contaminants from turnout gear, necessitating further research to optimize cleaning methods. This study explores the impact of presoaking prior to the laundering process and the factors that can affect its effectiveness, including the presoaking duration and detergent concentration, in PAH removal when laundering. For this, contaminated fabric swatches were subjected to various presoaking durations (1, 3, and 12 h) and detergent concentrations (99:1 and 90:10 water-to-detergent ratios) before undergoing bench-scale washing. The cleaning efficacy was assessed for 16 PAH compounds, including both low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs and high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs. Moreover, the removal mechanisms of PAHs from turnout gear were fundamentally explained using partition coefficients and standard affinities with different parameters during washing. The results demonstrate that 3 h and 12 h of presoaking lead to 2.8 and 4.3 times greater HMW PAH removal, respectively. After 12 h of presoaking in a 90:10 water-to-detergent ratio, 97% of the LMW PAHs and 78% of the HMW PAHs were removed, compared to only an 11% removal of the HMW PAHs with a 99:1 ratio. Additionally, direct washing with a 90:10 ratio achieved comparable efficacy to that of presoaking with the same water-to-detergent ratio, indicating the crucial role of detergent concentration during laundering. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing firefighter safety practices, emphasizing the role of presoaking and the appropriate methods to perform presoaking to mitigate firefighters’ occupational exposure risks to toxic substances and ensure gear reliability.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of the quality of diet as calculated by the Nutrient Rich Food index (NRF9.3), and length of service (LS) (≤10 years vs. >10 years) with selected serum biochemical parameters, the proportions of different lipid profile fractions and advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) values of 108 firefighters from the State Fire Service in Wroclaw. The LS officers > 10 years had significantly higher total cholesterol (211.50 (184.00–254.00) vs. 184.00 (166.00–194.00)), LDL (123.75 (108.20–167.90) vs. 105.18 (90.24–119.00)) non-HDL (151.70 (132.00–196.70) vs. 122.00 (106.00–140.00)), triglycerides (118.50 (96.00–158.00) vs. 78.00 (67.00–103.00)) and lower HDL concentrations (51.30 (45.60–56.70) vs. 58.00 (51.70–66.10)) compared to firefighters in the LS ≤ 10 years group. Significant differences between the seniority groups were also noted for all lipid profile ratios. Regardless of the officers’ seniority, systolic blood pressure was observed at the highest normal level of 134.4 ± 14.4 in the LS ≤ 10 years group and 139.5 ± 14.3 in the LS > 10 years group. Advanced glycation endproduct values were significantly dependent on diet quality, as expressed by the NRF9.3 index and on the TG/HDL ratio, but not on seniority. Diet quality, as expressed by the NRF9.3 index, had a significant association with GLU and FI levels, and components of the lipid profile between seniority groups. As NRF9.3 increased, TG/HDL, LDL/HDL, TC/HDL, and non-HDL/HDL ratios decreased. AGEs were significantly affected by NRF9.3 and significantly associated with TG/HDL. Firefighters’ diets, as assessed by the NRF9.3 index, had a significant association with predictors of insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiometabolic predictors between seniority groups. The nutritional education of firefighters (and other professional groups working irregularly), especially those with longer tenure (e.g., >10 years), is necessary to prevent the development of, e.g., CVD, MetS, and T2DM, which contribute towards a reduced ability to perform professional duties.

Global fire activities, which are getting worse due to climate change, cause both environmental and human health hazards. Firefighters, being the first responders, are frequently exposed to heat which may impact their immune system and overall health. However, the nature of the impact of chronic heat exposure on immune function has not been studied in-depth in firefighters. In this study, 22 firefighters exposed to “heavy-smoke fires (structural fires)”, categorized as the “high-exposure group” (>0.15 structural fires/week) and “low-exposure group” (

Abstract Background We report on community-based participatory research (CBPR) initiated by women firefighters in order to share successful elements that can be instructive for other community-engaged research. This CBPR initiative, known as the Women Worker Biomonitoring Collaborative (WWBC) is the first we are aware of to investigate links between occupational exposures and health outcomes, including breast cancer, for a cohort of exclusively women firefighters. Methods In order to be reflective of the experiences and knowledge of those most intimately involved, this article is co-authored by leaders of the research initiative. We collected leaders’ input via recorded meeting sessions, emails, and a shared online document. We also conducted interviews (N = 10) with key research participants and community leaders to include additional perspectives. Results Factors contributing to the initiative’s success in enacting broadscale social change and advancing scientific knowledge include (1) forming a diverse coalition of impacted community leaders, labor unions, scientists, and advocacy organizations, (2) focusing on impacts at multiple scales of action and nurturing different, yet mutually supportive, goals among partners, (3) adopting innovative communication strategies for study participants, research partners, and the broader community, (4) cultivating a prevention-based ethos in the scientific research, including taking early action to reduce community exposures based on existing evidence of harm, and (5) emphasizing co-learning through all the study stages. Furthermore, we discuss external factors that contribute to success, including funding programs that elevate scientist-community-advocacy partnerships and allow flexibility to respond to emerging science-policy opportunities, as well as institutional structures responsive to worker concerns. Conclusions While WWBC shares characteristics with other successful CBPR partnerships, it also advances approaches that increase the ability for CBPR to translate into change at multiple levels. This includes incorporating partners with particular skills and resources beyond the traditional researcher-community partnerships that are the focus of much CBPR practice and scholarly attention, and designing studies so they support community action in the initial stages of research. Moreover, we emphasize external structural factors that can be critical for CBPR success. This demonstrates the importance of critically examining and advocating for institutional factors that better support this research.

Introduction: Rescue worker is one of the jobs that is associated with stressful factors. Among the relief occupations, firefighters are faced various physical and chemical hazards, such as high temperatures, chemicals, noise, etc., due to their responsibilities for firefighting and safety services. Therefore, the main goal of this research was the effect and follow–up results of 8 weeks of operational-skill training on the dynamic balance of firefighters. Materials and Methods: The subjects of the research were 34 male firefighters of Tehran who had at least five years of continuous shift experience in the experimental group with an age range of 29.00±2.55 years, height of 178.41±4.62 cm, weight 77.39±4.66 kg, and body mass index 16. 24.31±1 kg per square meter, and in the control group with an age range of 28.71±2.39 years, height 177.47±3.32 cm, weight 76.00±4.12 kg, and body mass index 02/0 were 24.13±1 kg/m2, were selected. Results: The functional balance board of firefighters was used to evaluate dynamic balance. The research base was in the 114th station of the Tehran fire department. The analysis of the data obtained from the research was done by the statistical method of analysis of variance with repeated measures and to compare two groups by Bonferroni's post hoc test at the error level of 0.05 and using SPSS software version 24. According to the results of the research, after the intervention, there was a significant difference in the experimental group (p≥0.05); but no significant difference in the control group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Operational-skill training can improve and promote the important factors of injury prevention (fatigue, reaction time, and balance) among firefighters. Therefore, fatigue can affect reaction time and imbalance, which will result in musculoskeletal injuries among firefighters, so it is recommended to improve the mentioned factors of injury prevention. And for the lasting effect, operational skill exercises should be used. Finally, it can be said that operational-skill exercises can improve the dynamic balance of firefighters.

Firefighters are exposed to a complex mix of volatile and semi-volatile compounds from burning construction materials, consumer products, and other elements during fire suppression and rescue. These compounds can be absorbed onto the gear worn by firefighters and, depending on their volatility, can be released from the gear under different conditions. Few studies have focused on the off-gassing of toxic compounds from firefighters’ gear, particularly in terms of qualitative analysis methods. This study introduces a novel qualitative analysis method using headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) to assess off-gassing from field-contaminated jackets at regular intervals. Our findings show that certain compounds, such as acetic acid and di-ethyl-hexyl-phthalate (DEHP), remained present even after the gear were allowed to air out for 48 h. The persistent off-gassing of chemicals, even under ambient conditions, raises concerns about potential hazards that could pose risks for personnel in the vicinity of contaminated gear, including inside fire stations. The implications of these findings extend beyond fire stations and may have significant public health implications for firefighters who are repeatedly exposed to these compounds over time.