Fire service instructor's undergarment choice to reduce Interleukin-6 and minimise physiological and perceptual strain

Emily R Watkins; Alan J Richardson

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.11.004

Fire service instructor's undergarment choice to reduce Interleukin-6 and minimise physiological and perceptual strain

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Fire Service Instructors frequently experience high levels of physiological and perceptual strain during live fire exposures. Instructors are also at risk of cardiovascular illnesses, with cardiac death being the greatest cause of fire fighter death. Current practice for UK instructors is to select undergarment type based on personal preference, between a boiler suit (BOILER) and a wicking base layer (WBL). Research suggests that shorts and t-shirt (SHORTS) may also be a beneficial alternative undergarment choice. The UK South East Fire Service requested an investigation to identify if undergarment selection can lessen the strain experienced by instructors, and reduce the acute inflammatory response to fire exposures. Eight males completed three 45min sessions in a heat chamber (49.5±1.4°C and 16.9±4.3% RH) whilst performing intermittent walking. At the end of heat exposure change in heart rate was not effected by garment type (p=0.061, ηp2=0.373). Change in rectal temperature was different between garments (p=0.009, ηp2=0.271), with trends suggesting that BOILER resulted in a greater change (1.03±0.60°C) than SHORTS (0.76±0.37°C, p=0.589, d=0.21) and WBL (0.72±0.33°C, p=0.545, d=0.25). Interleukin-6 post exposure was greater for BOILER (6.96±0.28pgmL-1) than both SHORTS (6.59±0.30pgmL-1, p=0.043, d=0.42) and WBL (6.45±0.43pgmL-1, p=0.031, d=0.51). Overall, undergarment type had little impact on physiological or perceptual strain. However, wearing WBL or SHORTS may reduce the inflammatory response, and consequently decrease the risk of cardiovascular events.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	41-48
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of thermal biology
Volume	63
Issue number	January 2017
Early online date	11 Nov 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.11.004
Publication status	Published - Jan 2017

Keywords

Body Temperature
Cardiovascular Diseases
Firefighters
Hot Temperature
Humans
Interleukin-6
Male
Occupational Diseases
Perception
Protective Clothing
Stress, Psychological
Young Adult
Comparative Study
Journal Article

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.11.004

Cite this

@article{df6eb3094a4e443194e09d76aef9bf96,

title = "Fire service instructor's undergarment choice to reduce Interleukin-6 and minimise physiological and perceptual strain",

abstract = "Fire Service Instructors frequently experience high levels of physiological and perceptual strain during live fire exposures. Instructors are also at risk of cardiovascular illnesses, with cardiac death being the greatest cause of fire fighter death. Current practice for UK instructors is to select undergarment type based on personal preference, between a boiler suit (BOILER) and a wicking base layer (WBL). Research suggests that shorts and t-shirt (SHORTS) may also be a beneficial alternative undergarment choice. The UK South East Fire Service requested an investigation to identify if undergarment selection can lessen the strain experienced by instructors, and reduce the acute inflammatory response to fire exposures. Eight males completed three 45min sessions in a heat chamber (49.5±1.4°C and 16.9±4.3% RH) whilst performing intermittent walking. At the end of heat exposure change in heart rate was not effected by garment type (p=0.061, ηp2=0.373). Change in rectal temperature was different between garments (p=0.009, ηp2=0.271), with trends suggesting that BOILER resulted in a greater change (1.03±0.60°C) than SHORTS (0.76±0.37°C, p=0.589, d=0.21) and WBL (0.72±0.33°C, p=0.545, d=0.25). Interleukin-6 post exposure was greater for BOILER (6.96±0.28pgmL-1) than both SHORTS (6.59±0.30pgmL-1, p=0.043, d=0.42) and WBL (6.45±0.43pgmL-1, p=0.031, d=0.51). Overall, undergarment type had little impact on physiological or perceptual strain. However, wearing WBL or SHORTS may reduce the inflammatory response, and consequently decrease the risk of cardiovascular events.",

keywords = "Body Temperature, Cardiovascular Diseases, Firefighters, Hot Temperature, Humans, Interleukin-6, Male, Occupational Diseases, Perception, Protective Clothing, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult, Comparative Study, Journal Article",

author = "Watkins, {Emily R} and Richardson, {Alan J}",

year = "2017",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.11.004",

language = "English",

volume = "63",

pages = "41--48",

journal = "Journal of thermal biology",

issn = "0306-4565",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "January 2017",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fire service instructor's undergarment choice to reduce Interleukin-6 and minimise physiological and perceptual strain

AU - Watkins, Emily R

AU - Richardson, Alan J

PY - 2017/1

Y1 - 2017/1

N2 - Fire Service Instructors frequently experience high levels of physiological and perceptual strain during live fire exposures. Instructors are also at risk of cardiovascular illnesses, with cardiac death being the greatest cause of fire fighter death. Current practice for UK instructors is to select undergarment type based on personal preference, between a boiler suit (BOILER) and a wicking base layer (WBL). Research suggests that shorts and t-shirt (SHORTS) may also be a beneficial alternative undergarment choice. The UK South East Fire Service requested an investigation to identify if undergarment selection can lessen the strain experienced by instructors, and reduce the acute inflammatory response to fire exposures. Eight males completed three 45min sessions in a heat chamber (49.5±1.4°C and 16.9±4.3% RH) whilst performing intermittent walking. At the end of heat exposure change in heart rate was not effected by garment type (p=0.061, ηp2=0.373). Change in rectal temperature was different between garments (p=0.009, ηp2=0.271), with trends suggesting that BOILER resulted in a greater change (1.03±0.60°C) than SHORTS (0.76±0.37°C, p=0.589, d=0.21) and WBL (0.72±0.33°C, p=0.545, d=0.25). Interleukin-6 post exposure was greater for BOILER (6.96±0.28pgmL-1) than both SHORTS (6.59±0.30pgmL-1, p=0.043, d=0.42) and WBL (6.45±0.43pgmL-1, p=0.031, d=0.51). Overall, undergarment type had little impact on physiological or perceptual strain. However, wearing WBL or SHORTS may reduce the inflammatory response, and consequently decrease the risk of cardiovascular events.

AB - Fire Service Instructors frequently experience high levels of physiological and perceptual strain during live fire exposures. Instructors are also at risk of cardiovascular illnesses, with cardiac death being the greatest cause of fire fighter death. Current practice for UK instructors is to select undergarment type based on personal preference, between a boiler suit (BOILER) and a wicking base layer (WBL). Research suggests that shorts and t-shirt (SHORTS) may also be a beneficial alternative undergarment choice. The UK South East Fire Service requested an investigation to identify if undergarment selection can lessen the strain experienced by instructors, and reduce the acute inflammatory response to fire exposures. Eight males completed three 45min sessions in a heat chamber (49.5±1.4°C and 16.9±4.3% RH) whilst performing intermittent walking. At the end of heat exposure change in heart rate was not effected by garment type (p=0.061, ηp2=0.373). Change in rectal temperature was different between garments (p=0.009, ηp2=0.271), with trends suggesting that BOILER resulted in a greater change (1.03±0.60°C) than SHORTS (0.76±0.37°C, p=0.589, d=0.21) and WBL (0.72±0.33°C, p=0.545, d=0.25). Interleukin-6 post exposure was greater for BOILER (6.96±0.28pgmL-1) than both SHORTS (6.59±0.30pgmL-1, p=0.043, d=0.42) and WBL (6.45±0.43pgmL-1, p=0.031, d=0.51). Overall, undergarment type had little impact on physiological or perceptual strain. However, wearing WBL or SHORTS may reduce the inflammatory response, and consequently decrease the risk of cardiovascular events.

KW - Body Temperature

KW - Cardiovascular Diseases

KW - Firefighters

KW - Hot Temperature

KW - Humans

KW - Interleukin-6

KW - Male

KW - Occupational Diseases

KW - Perception

KW - Protective Clothing

KW - Stress, Psychological

KW - Young Adult

KW - Comparative Study

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.11.004

DO - 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.11.004

M3 - Article

C2 - 28010814

SN - 0306-4565

VL - 63

SP - 41

EP - 48

JO - Journal of thermal biology

JF - Journal of thermal biology

IS - January 2017

ER -