Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermoregulatory responses of firemen to exercise in the heat

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Twelve volunteer (VF) and 12 professional firemen (PF) wearing only brief trunks exercised on an electrically-braked cycle ergometer at three-five exercise intensities. After 45 min of exercise at 75 W, the exercise intensity was elevated in steps of 25 W every 15 min until the subject was exhausted. Air temperature was regulated to equal skin temperature (36°–38°C) and relative humidity was regulated at 52%. The two groups of firemen were comparable in terms of body mass, age and maximum oxygen consumption. Their oxygen consumption, rectal and skin temperatures, sweating and heart rate were measured during the tests. Blood lactate concentration was measured before, during and after the test. The physiological strain was higher in VF as indicated by higher heat storage, heart rate, skin and rectal temperatures. Sweat rate tended to be lower in VF than PF. The results indicated a better adaptation of the professional compared to the volunteer firemen to work in the heat, although the degree of heat acclimatization was considered to be equally minimal in both groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alber-Wallerström B, Holmér I (1985) Evaporation of sweat from unacclimatized man working in a hot humid environment. Eur J Appl Physiol 54:480–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avellini BA, Shapiro Y, Fortney SM, Wenger CB, Pandolf KB (1982) Effects of heat tolerance of physical training in water and on land. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol 53:1291–1298

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnard RJ, Duncan HW (1975) Heart rate and ECG responses of firefighters. J Occup Med 17:247–250

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borg G (1970) Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress. Scand J Rehabil Med 2:92–98

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis PO, Dotson CO, Santa Maria DL (1982) Relationship between simulated firefighting and performance measures. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:65–71

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan HW, Gardner GW, Barnard RJ (1979) Physiological responses of men working in fire fighting equipment in the heat. Ergonomics 22:521–527

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekblom B, Åstrand P-O, Saltin B, Stenberg J, Wallström B (1968) Effect of training on circulatory response to exercise. J Appl Physiol 24:518–528

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekblom B, Greenleaf CJ, Greenleaf JE, Hermansen L (1970) Temperature regulation during exercise dehydration in man. Acta Physiol Scand 79:475–483

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fanger PO (1970) Thermal comfort. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gisolfi CV (1973) Work-heat tolerance derived from interval training. J Appl Physiol 35:349–354

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gisolfi C, Robinson S (1969) Relation between physical training, acclimatization and heat tolerance. J Appl Physiol 26:530–534

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henane R, Flandrois R, Charbonnier JP (1977) Increase in sweating sensitivity by endurance conditioning in man. J Appl Physiol 43:822–828

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holmér I (1985) Heat exchange and thermal insulation compared in woolen and nylon garments during wear trials. Textile Res J 55:511–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorfeldt L, Juhlin-Dannefelt A, Karlsson J (1978) Lactate release in relation to tissue lactate in human skeletal muscle during exercise. J Appl Physiol 44:350–352

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamon E, Belding HS (1971) The physiological cost of carrying loads in temperate and hot environments. Hum Factors 13:153–161

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lemon PWR, Hermiston RT (1977) The human cost of firefighting. J Occup Med 19:558–562

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manning JE, Griggs TR (1983) Heart rates in firefighters using light and heavy breathing equipment: similar near-maximal exertion in response to multiple work conditions. J Occup Med 25:215–218

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nadel ER, Pandolf KB, Roberts MF, Stolwijk JAJ (1974) Mechanisms of thermal acclimation to exercise and heat. J Appl Physiol 37:515–520

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nadel ER, Cafarelli E, Roberts MF, Wenger CB (1979) Circulatory regulation during exercise in different ambient temperatures. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol 46:430–437

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishi Y, Gagge AP (1970) Direct evaluation of convective heat transfer coefficient by naphthalene sublimation. J Appl Physiol 29:830–838

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pandolf KB (1979) Effect of physical training and cardiorespiratory physical fitness on exercise heat tolerance: recent observations. Med Sci Sports 11:60–65

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piwonka RW, Robinson S (1967) Acclimatization of highly trained men to work in severe heat. J Appl Physiol 22:9–12

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piwonka RW, Robinson S, Gay VL, Manalis RS (1965) Preacclimatization of men to heat by training. J Appl Physiol 20:379–384

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prud'Homme D, Bouchard C, Leblanc C, Landry F, Fontaine E (1984) Sensitivity of maximal aerobic power to training is genotype-dependent. Med Sci Sports Exerc 16:489–493

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Romet TT, Frim J (1988) Physiological responses to firefighting activities. Eur J Appl Physiol 56:633–638

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowell LB (1986) Human circulation. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowell LB, Kraning KK, Kennedy JW, Evans TO (1967) Central circulatory responses to work in dry heat before and after acclimatization. J Appl Physiol 22:509–518

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saltin B (1964) Aerobic and anaerobic work capacity after dehydration. J Appl Physiol 19:1114–1118

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saltin B, Hermansen L (1966) Esophageal, rectal and muscle temperature during exercise. J Appl Physiol 21:1757–1762

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saltin B, Blomquist B, Mitchell JH, Johnson RL Jr, Wildenthal K, Chapman CB (1968) Response to exercise after bed rest and after training. Circulation 38 [Suppl 7]:1–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Shvartz E, Shapiro Y, Magazanik A, Meroz A, Birnfield H, Mechtinger A, Shibolet S (1977) Heat acclimation, physical fitness and responses to exercise in temperate and hot environments. J Appl Physiol 43:678–683

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Senay LC, Mitchell D, Wyndham CH (1976) Acclimatization to a hot, humid environment: body fluid adjustments. J Appl Physiol 40:786–796

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sköldström B (1987) Physiological responses of firefighters to workload and thermal stress. Ergonomics 30:1589–1597

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strydom NB, Wyndham CH, Williams CG, Morrison JF, Bredell GAG, Benade AJS, von Rahden M (1966) Acclimatization to humid heat and the role of physical conditioning. J Appl Physiol 21:636–642

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vokac Z, Köpke V, Keül P (1976) Physiological responses and thermal humidity and comfort sensations in wear trials with cotton and polypropylene vests. Textile Res J 46:30–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenger CB, Roberts MF, Stolwijk JAJ, Nadel ER (1975) Forearm blood flow during body leg exercise. J Appl Physiol 38:58–63

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wyndham CH (1973) The physiology of exercise under heat stress. Annu Rev Physiol 35:193–220

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wyndham CH, Strydom NB, Morrison JF, duTout FD, Kraan JG (1954) Responses of unacclimatized men under stress of heat and work. J Appl Physiol 6:681–686

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Climate Physiology Division, Department of Work Physiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ekelundsvägen 16, S-17184, Solna, Sweden

    Désirée C. E. Gavhed & Ingvar Holmér

Authors
  1. Désirée C. E. Gavhed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ingvar Holmér
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gavhed, D.C.E., Holmér, I. Thermoregulatory responses of firemen to exercise in the heat. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 59, 115–122 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02396588

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02396588

Key words

Search

Navigation