Abstract
Background:
The aim of this systematic review was to collect, appraise, and
synthesize the available information related to the cardiovascular and metabolic demands
of commonly performed firefighting tasks while wearing personal protective equipment
(PPE) inclusive of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Methods:
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, academic databases (PubMed, Embase, and SPORTDiscus databases) were searched for relevant records which were subjected to dedicated eligibility criteria with included articles quality appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist.
Results:
Of an initial 1463 identified records, 20 studies with a mean CASP of 8.26/11
informed the review. A myriad of varying field tests have been employed to determine
physical preparedness and assess the metabolic demand of firefighting.
Conclusions:
The volume of evidence suggests that PPE and SCBA must be incorporated when assessing the
demands of firefighting as they clearly increase the metabolic cost of combined simulated
firefighting tasks. Although real-world scenarios are made up of a combination of individual firefighting tasks, there remains a clear need to determine the metabolic cost of isolated
firefighting tasks such as forcible entry, hose drag, victim rescue, ladder raise, and stair
climbing with and without PPE and SCBA. The quantification of the metabolic demand of
these tasks may assist tactical trainers when designing simulated scenarios and training
programs for firefighters.
The aim of this systematic review was to collect, appraise, and
synthesize the available information related to the cardiovascular and metabolic demands
of commonly performed firefighting tasks while wearing personal protective equipment
(PPE) inclusive of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Methods:
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, academic databases (PubMed, Embase, and SPORTDiscus databases) were searched for relevant records which were subjected to dedicated eligibility criteria with included articles quality appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist.
Results:
Of an initial 1463 identified records, 20 studies with a mean CASP of 8.26/11
informed the review. A myriad of varying field tests have been employed to determine
physical preparedness and assess the metabolic demand of firefighting.
Conclusions:
The volume of evidence suggests that PPE and SCBA must be incorporated when assessing the
demands of firefighting as they clearly increase the metabolic cost of combined simulated
firefighting tasks. Although real-world scenarios are made up of a combination of individual firefighting tasks, there remains a clear need to determine the metabolic cost of isolated
firefighting tasks such as forcible entry, hose drag, victim rescue, ladder raise, and stair
climbing with and without PPE and SCBA. The quantification of the metabolic demand of
these tasks may assist tactical trainers when designing simulated scenarios and training
programs for firefighters.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-25 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Physiologia |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2025 |