Evaluation of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) design and weight on firefighter physiological and biomechanical response

Firefighters wear personal protective equipment to protect them from the thermal and chemical environment in which they must operate to perform fire suppression activities. Specifically, the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which is worn on the back and contains compressed air, provides isolation to the airway from the hazardous fireground. The weight of the SCBA can induce changes in the firefighter’s balance and when combined with physically demanding work can increase the physiological and metabolic response of the firefighter. Current national standards limit the weight of the SCBA to 16kg. However, new technologies exist that could be of value to the firefighter and could be integrated into the SCBA but may increase the weight above the existing limit. The study within this dissertation seeks to examine the effects on the physiological response, dynamic stability, and comfort of increased self-contained breathing apparatus weight in active firefighters within the United States Fire Service. As in previous studies, completion of firefighting activities induced a high physiological and metabolic response, though these measures showed few differences between SCBA weighing 16kg, 18.3kg, and 20.5kg. There was a trend toward statistical significance for time the participant was able to perform firefighting activities prior to reaching volitional fatigue. Careful consideration should be made when considering raising the existing limits on SCBA weight to avoid negative impacts on firefighting working time and the negative perceptions firefighters felt about the mobility and difficulty in using heavier SCBA.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Kesler, Richard M

Contributors dc:contributor

• Burd, Nicholas A
• Wilund, Kenneth
• Allen, Jacob
• Horn, Gavin P

• Heart Rate
• Core Temperature
• Functional Balance
• Self-contained Breathing Apparatus
• Firefighting

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Richard Kesler

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117656

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F117656