ORIGINAL PAPER
Verification of electronic device technology for measurement and evaluation of thermal exposure of fire fighters and members of rescue teams
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1
VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
(Faculty of Safety Engineering, Laboratory for Risk Research and Management)
2
University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
(Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health)
3
University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
(Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology)
4
VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
(Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Robotics)
Online publication date: 2017-11-24
Corresponding author
Šárka Bernatíková
VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Safety Engineering,
Laboratory for Risk Research and Management, 17. Listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2018;69(1):1-11
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ABSTRACT
Background: The work of members of rescue teams could be associated with very high physical and thermal loads. If not timely
interrupted, any extreme labour-thermal load may lead to a failure of the body and fatal collapse. This risk may be significantly
reduced by devices that monitor the response of the body during the intervention and inform rescuers about the need to interrupt
the exposure when the critical value of the reference indicator is achieved. The aim of the study was to test the correlation
between the data of the newly developed device for signaling the strain of rescuers and the indicators of physiological response
of the body. Material and Methods: The tests were performed on 2 physically fit fire fighters dressed in a protective rescue suit
and using insulating breathing apparatus, over a wide range of heat load under a model load on a bicycle ergometer in a climatic
chamber. Results: The study provided a significant correlation between the body temperature measured in the ear canal and the
temperature under the suit sensed by the tested device – the Safety Ambient Monitor (SAM) (R = 0.9007). The temperature under
the suit also correlated with the temperature of the chest skin (R = 0.8928) and heart rate (R = 0.8613). Conclusions: A statistically
significant correlation was proven between the temperature sensed by the SAM and the body temperature. The technical solution
of sensing the temperature under the suit using the verified SAM technology does not affect or limit fire fighters in their work and
minimizes the possibility of damage to the sensor and signaling failures. Med Pr 2018;69(1):1–11