Heart Rates in Fire Fighters Using Light and Heavy Breathing Equipment: Similar Near-Maximal Exertion in Response to Multiple Work Load Conditions

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Abstract
Intense exertion is an occupational hazard inherent to fire fighting. This study was designed to look at the exertion levels that fire fighters attain during a fire fighting exercise when using no self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), light SCBA and heavy SCBA. Exertion levels were measured as a function of the heart rate increase relative to the maximum predicted heart rate determined by a standard treadmill exercise test. Five fire fighters wore ECG monitors during a routine fire fighting exercise. Heart rates increased rapidly to 70-80% of maximum within the 1st minute and then plateaued at 90-100% until the attack on the fire was completed. There was no significant difference between exertion levels when using no SCBA, light SCBA and heavy SCBA (split-plot analysis of variance, P > 0.25). Fire fighters attained an intense level of physical activity quickly and maintained that level as long as they were actively engaged in fighting fire. Regardless of the weight of the SCBA, if employed, fire figthers exerted themselves from 85-100% of their maximum and adjusted their work output to maintain that near-maximal level.

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