The thermal demands of flood rescue and impacts on task performance

Michael J. Tipton; Cristian Abelairas-Gómez; Adrian Mayhew; Gemma S. Milligan

doi:10.1080/00140139.2019.1683617

The thermal demands of flood rescue and impacts on task performance

Michael J. Tipton, Cristian Abelairas-Gómez, Adrian Mayhew, Gemma S. Milligan

School of Sport, Health & Exercise Science

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

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Abstract

Objective: To determine the thermal demand of simulated Flood Rescue tasks and impacts on performance.

Methods: Ten participants undertook two simulations: ‘Cold’ (4 °C)-participants stood in knee height moving water (4.8km·h−1), with simulated wind and rain for 60 min. ‘Warm’ (20 °C)-participants performed 6x7 min walking in knee height moving water (3.2km·h−1), pulling 10kg. Grip strength, manual dexterity, and jump height were measured pre and post.

Results: The cold resulted in cooling of the great toe and finger (9.98 [0.84]°C and 10.38 [8.21-12.1]°C respectively). Jump height, manual dexterity and grip strength fell by 20%, 22% and ∼13% respectively. In the ‘Warm’: heart rates were 157 (19)b.min−1, oxygen consumption 30.62 (7.83)mL.kg−1.min−1, and sweat loss 1.06 (0.31)L. There were no differences in the physical tests.

Conclusion: Flood Rescue represents significant, but different, challenges. Remaining static in the cold resulted in peripheral neuromuscular cooling, whilst exercising in the warm resulted in significant thermal challenge.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	109-118
Journal	Ergonomics
Volume	63
Issue number	1
Early online date	21 Oct 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2019.1683617
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

fitness
flowing water
personal protective equipment
technician

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10.1080/00140139.2019.1683617

The_Thermal_Demands_of_Flood_Rescue_and_Impacts_on_Task_Performance
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics on 21/10/2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00140139.2019.1683617.
Accepted author manuscript (Post-print), 2.07 MB

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140139.2019.1683617

Speaker at ‘The Climate Emergency: Research gaps, policy priorities and funding’ webinar
Gemma Milligan (Speaker)
15 Jun 2022
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

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title = "The thermal demands of flood rescue and impacts on task performance",

abstract = "Objective: To determine the thermal demand of simulated Flood Rescue tasks and impacts on performance. Methods: Ten participants undertook two simulations: {\textquoteleft}Cold{\textquoteright} (4 °C)-participants stood in knee height moving water (4.8km·h−1), with simulated wind and rain for 60 min. {\textquoteleft}Warm{\textquoteright} (20 °C)-participants performed 6x7 min walking in knee height moving water (3.2km·h−1), pulling 10kg. Grip strength, manual dexterity, and jump height were measured pre and post. Results: The cold resulted in cooling of the great toe and finger (9.98 [0.84]°C and 10.38 [8.21-12.1]°C respectively). Jump height, manual dexterity and grip strength fell by 20%, 22% and ∼13% respectively. In the {\textquoteleft}Warm{\textquoteright}: heart rates were 157 (19)b.min−1, oxygen consumption 30.62 (7.83)mL.kg−1.min−1, and sweat loss 1.06 (0.31)L. There were no differences in the physical tests. Conclusion: Flood Rescue represents significant, but different, challenges. Remaining static in the cold resulted in peripheral neuromuscular cooling, whilst exercising in the warm resulted in significant thermal challenge.",

keywords = "fitness, flowing water, personal protective equipment, technician",

author = "Tipton, {Michael J.} and Cristian Abelairas-G{\'o}mez and Adrian Mayhew and Milligan, {Gemma S.}",

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N2 - Objective: To determine the thermal demand of simulated Flood Rescue tasks and impacts on performance. Methods: Ten participants undertook two simulations: ‘Cold’ (4 °C)-participants stood in knee height moving water (4.8km·h−1), with simulated wind and rain for 60 min. ‘Warm’ (20 °C)-participants performed 6x7 min walking in knee height moving water (3.2km·h−1), pulling 10kg. Grip strength, manual dexterity, and jump height were measured pre and post. Results: The cold resulted in cooling of the great toe and finger (9.98 [0.84]°C and 10.38 [8.21-12.1]°C respectively). Jump height, manual dexterity and grip strength fell by 20%, 22% and ∼13% respectively. In the ‘Warm’: heart rates were 157 (19)b.min−1, oxygen consumption 30.62 (7.83)mL.kg−1.min−1, and sweat loss 1.06 (0.31)L. There were no differences in the physical tests. Conclusion: Flood Rescue represents significant, but different, challenges. Remaining static in the cold resulted in peripheral neuromuscular cooling, whilst exercising in the warm resulted in significant thermal challenge.

AB - Objective: To determine the thermal demand of simulated Flood Rescue tasks and impacts on performance. Methods: Ten participants undertook two simulations: ‘Cold’ (4 °C)-participants stood in knee height moving water (4.8km·h−1), with simulated wind and rain for 60 min. ‘Warm’ (20 °C)-participants performed 6x7 min walking in knee height moving water (3.2km·h−1), pulling 10kg. Grip strength, manual dexterity, and jump height were measured pre and post. Results: The cold resulted in cooling of the great toe and finger (9.98 [0.84]°C and 10.38 [8.21-12.1]°C respectively). Jump height, manual dexterity and grip strength fell by 20%, 22% and ∼13% respectively. In the ‘Warm’: heart rates were 157 (19)b.min−1, oxygen consumption 30.62 (7.83)mL.kg−1.min−1, and sweat loss 1.06 (0.31)L. There were no differences in the physical tests. Conclusion: Flood Rescue represents significant, but different, challenges. Remaining static in the cold resulted in peripheral neuromuscular cooling, whilst exercising in the warm resulted in significant thermal challenge.

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JF - Ergonomics

SN - 0014-0139

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The thermal demands of flood rescue and impacts on task performance

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Speaker at ‘The Climate Emergency: Research gaps, policy priorities and funding’ webinar

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