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Title: Acute cardiovascular effects of firefighting and active cooling during rehabilitation.

Authors: Burgess, Jefferey L; Duncan, Michael D; Hu, Chengcheng; Littau, Sally R; Caseman, Delayne; Kurzius-Spencer, Margaret; Davis-Gorman, Grace; McDonagh, Paul F

Published In J Occup Environ Med, (2012 Nov)

Abstract: To determine the cardiovascular and hemostatic effects of fire suppression and postexposure active cooling.Forty-four firefighters were evaluated before and after a 12-minute live-fire drill. Next, 50 firefighters performing the same drill were randomized to undergo postfire forearm immersion in 10 °C water or standard rehabilitation.In the first study, heart rate and core body temperature increased and serum C-reactive protein decreased but there were no significant changes in fibrinogen, sE-selectin, or sL-selectin. The second study demonstrated an increase in blood coagulability, leukocyte count, factors VIII and X, cortisol, and glucose, and a decrease in plasminogen and sP-selectin. Active cooling reduced mean core temperature, heart rate, and leukocyte count.Live-fire exposure increased core temperature, heart rate, coagulability, and leukocyte count; all except coagulability were reduced by active cooling.

PubMed ID: 23090161 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; Biomarkers/blood; Blood Coagulation; Blood Glucose/metabolism; Blood Pressure; Blood Proteins/metabolism*; Body Temperature; Cryotherapy*; Female; Fires; Forearm; Heart Rate; Hot Temperature/adverse effects; Humans; Hydrocortisone/blood; Immersion; Leukocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; P-Selectin/blood; Physical Exertion/physiology*; Rehabilitation; Stress, Physiological*; Thrombelastography; Time Factors; Young Adult

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