F. Ftaiti et al., Tympanic temperature and heart rate changes in firefighters during treadmill runs performed with different fireproof jackets, ERGONOMICS, 44(5), 2001, pp. 502-512
Six well-trained firefighters performed six treadmill runs at 70% of the ve
locity at VO2max (Maximal aerobic velocity MAV = 13.2 +/- 0.3 km h(-1)). A
recovery time of 1 week was allowed between trials. The first session was p
erformed by subjects wearing only shorts (i.e. no fire jacket, J0). A simil
ar protocol was applied subsequently to test the physiological effects asso
ciated with the wearing of one of five different fire jackets: one leather
(J1) and four textile-type jackets: VTN(TM) with membrane (J2), VTN(TM) wit
hout membrane (J3), Vidal(TM) with Kermel(R) HTA (Haute Teneur en Aramide i
.e. high density in Aramide) (J4); and Rolland(TM) with Kermel(R) HTA (J5).
All sessions were performed in a randomized order and in laboratory condit
ions. Exercise with the fireproof jackets resulted in higher tympanic tempe
rature (Tty), heart rate (HR) and body mass loss (BML) changes compared to
J0 (p <0.001). The magnitudes of these changes depended on the type of the
jacket. Exercise in the leather jacket (J1) resulted in the highest Tty and
HR, which differed significantly from values in all other conditions (p <0
.001). The exercise-induced increases in Tty wearing jackets J3 and J5 were
also significantly (p <0.05) higher than those observed with jackets J2 an
d J4. In conclusion, textile jackets induced less HR and Tty stresses than
the leather one. The magnitude of the physiological responses induced by te
xtile jackets were correlated to jacket weight. J2 and J4 jackets were more
effective in limiting hyperthermia and any potential detrimental effect on
the exercise capacity.