Climate changes offers opportunities as well as challenges.
Dr Hugh Fullagar
For firefighters around the world, the challenge is that hotter conditions are leading to more fires, and hotter firefighters. For Dr Hugh Fullagar, from the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, the past six months have enabled him to tour fire and defence facilities in Europe. This was funded under the Professional Experience Program at UTS. The knowledge gained during this program was furthered by his research on a landmark project, Keeping Cool and Calm in the Line of Fire.
The three-phase project is a collaboration with Fire and Rescue NSW and looks at practical ways to keep personnel cool while fighting fires.
“We were looking at the effects of cooling strategies on physical and cognitive outcomes, and their safety,” Hugh said.
When firefighters get hot, we want to find out the best and most logistically appropriate way to cool them down, because we know if they get too hot too often, then serious health problems arise.
Dr Hugh Fullagar
Using the school’s climate chamber in Moore Park, researchers recruited 14 serving firefighters and put them through a series of physically demanding tasks, interspersed with 20-minute breaks.
During these breaks, they cooled down using a range of strategies.
These ranged from the most basic – taking off layers of clothes and boots, drinking ambient temperature water – to more intensive techniques such as large fans with and without mist, drinking ice slushies and sitting in comfort chairs where limbs were surrounded by cool liquid.
As part of the research, serving firefighters completed a series of physically demanding tasks.
“The first main deliverable for the project was to provide evidence that these strategies work with relevance for their profession and environment, so the fire service can make better decisions around resource allocation,” Hugh said.
“So, it’s about letting senior staff know what needs to be provided, and when it needs to be provided based on levels of risk, location and type of job.
“The second deliverable is about using this information for improving the education of heat and cooling of firefighters.
“We work with FRNSW to assist them in their development of educational materials so they can advise their firefighters on best practice depending on the nature of the incident.”
Hugh and Fire and Rescue NSW are already planning the next stage of the research, which will be to study best practice cooling methods in the field and remote incidents.
Find out more
For more information about our research impact in the Faculty of Health or for collaboration opportunities, contact:
Professor Angela Dawson
Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health
E: Angela.Dawson@uts.edu.au
T: +61 (02) 9514 4892
PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia