Development of role-related minimum cardiorespiratory fitness standards for firefighters and commanders

摘要

A minimum cardiorespiratory fitness standard was derived for firefighters following a metabolic demands analysis. Design and minimal acceptable performance of generic firefighting task simulations (i.e. hose running, casualty evacuation, stair climb, equipment carry, wild-land fire) were endorsed by a panel of operationally experienced experts. Sixty-two UK firefighters completed these tasks wearing a standard protective firefighting ensemble while being monitored for peak steady-state metabolic demand and cardiovascular strain. Four tasks, endorsed as valid operational simulations by90% of participants (excluding wild-land fire; 84%), were deemed to be a sufficiently valid and reliable basis for a fitness standard. These tasks elicited an average peak steady-state metabolic cost of 38.17.8mlkg(-1)min(-1). It is estimated that healthy adults can sustain the total duration of these tasks (similar to 16min) at90% maximum oxygen uptake and a cardiorespiratory fitness standard of42.3mlkg(-1)min(-1) would be required to sustain work.Practitioner Summary: A cardiorespiratory fitness standard for firefighters of42.3mlkg(-1)min(-1) was derived from monitoring minimum acceptable performance of essential tasks. This study supports the implementation of a routine assessment of this fitness standard for all UK operational firefighters, to ensure safe physical preparedness for occupational performance.