The Human Energy Cost of Fire Fighting

This study assesses the energy costs of four selected isolated fire fighting tasks. The four most strenuous fire fighting tasks as judged by the men and their administrators were selected for the study. Twenty male professional fire fighters, ages 23 to 43 years, served as subjects. After the men participated in a series of laboratory evaluation for % body fat, muscular strength and functional capacity (aerobic and anaerobic capacities), they participated in the four specified work tasks (aerial ladder climb, rescue of a "victim" hose drag, and lad der raise). All tasks were performed at constant predetermined work rates. The results indicate that fire fighting consists of heavy physical work (≃ 60-80% MV̇C₂) even when the obvious external stresses present at an actual fire are eliminated (i.e., heat, humidity, decreased O₂, increased CO₂, as well as emotional stress). With the possible exception of MV̇O₂, there appears to be little or no relationship between a number of the physical capacities of the fire fighters and the individual physiological adaptations employed to meet the energy requirements of the tasks. Although MV̇O₂ values were not significant (P < 0.10 > 0.05), there was an indication that those fire fighters with MV̇O₂'s >40 ml.Kg⁻¹.min.⁻¹ might be able to supply a greater percentage of the total O₂ cost aerobically when compared to those men with MV̇O₂'s < 40 ml.Kg⁻¹.min.⁻¹. It was concluded that the level of physiologic work, alone, is not of sufficient stress to contribute significantly to the development of ischemic heart disease in fire fighters.