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Research Article

Hematological Responses to Strenuous Live-fire Firefighting Activities

D.L. Smith, S.J. Petruzzello, J.A. Woods, M.A. Chludzinski & J.J. Reed; Skidmore Coll., Saratoga Springs, NY; Univ.of Illinois and Covenant M.C., Urbana, IL

The purpose of this study was to describe changes in blood chemistry, blood volume, and blood cell counts following strenuous firefighting activities performed in a building that contained live fires. Subjects were 11 male, career firefighters (M age = 31.8 yrs, Ht = 180.7 cm, Wt = 86.1 kg). Subjects completed 3 trials of a standardized set of tasks (carrying and using a fire extinguisher, hoisting hose, chopping wood, dragging a dummy,) in a training structure that contained live fires. Each trial took an average of about 6 min and subjects were given a 10 minute rest period between Trials 2 and 3. Blood samples were drawn prior to initiating the drills, within 1 minute of completing the drills, and following a 1 hour recovery period. ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc analysis revealed significant differences among the three sample periods for a) plasma volume, b) white blood cell count (including subsets) and c)10 of the 19 variables assessed via a standard blood chemistry panel. These data indicate that strenuous firefighting activity performed in a hot and hostile environment results in changes in blood volume, blood cell counts and in blood chemistry. The change in plasma volume (a 15% decrease) is in agreement with published data regarding strenuous exercise in a hot environment. The changes in blood chemistry and white blood cell counts provides further evidence as to extent of physiological disruption that can occur with strenuous firefighting activity.

Supported by Skidmore Faculty Initiative Grant.