Cardiorespiratory responses of firefighters to a computerized fire strategies and tactics drill during physical activity

Firefighters are subjected to a combination of physical and mental challenges in the course of their occupational responsibilities. However, due to the ecological factors involved with firefighting, it makes it extremely difficult to examine physiological and psychological changes that occur as a result of these combined challenges. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a computer-based Fire Strategies and Tactics Drill (FSTD) in eliciting psychological and physiological measures of stress in professional firefighters. In one session, participants exercised at 60% VO_2max for 37 min (exercise alone condition, EAC), and in the other session the firefighter exercised for an equal amount of time and responded to the FSTD (dual challenge condition; DCC) while exercising. Cardiorespiratory (heart rate HR], respiration rate RR], minute ventilation V_E], oxygen consumption VO₂], ventilatory efficiency V_E/VO₂], and respiratory exchange ratio RER]) and psychometric measures (State Anxiety Inventory SAI] and Ratings of Perceived Exertion RPE]) were obtained throughout the experimental protocols. The NASA Task Load Index was used to assess perceived physical and mental load during each condition. The results demonstrated that the participants perceived overall workload to be higher in the DCC. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed no differences between the EAC and DCC for VO₂ or RER, but the DCC did elicit significantly greater elevations in HR, RR, V_E, and V_E/VO₂ compared to the EAC. These results suggest that the FSTD utilized in this study provides an effective method for examining the physiological and psychological responses of firefighters in a research laboratory environment.