SCBA Oximetry for Fire Fighter Physiologic Monitoring

Details

• Personal Author:
  Wiesmann WP ; Wiesmann WP
• Description:
  This project adapted technologies currently used for patient monitoring in the clinical environment to real time physiologic monitoring of working firefighters. The work is aimed at reducing the occupational morbidity and mortality of the fireground through direct physiologic status monitoring and development of essential research tools for understanding the pathophysiology of non-traumatic disability on the fire ground. Reflectance mode oximetry sensors were mounted in the face pieces of commercially available self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) after the optimal separation distance of the emitting and detecting elements was empirically established. Oximetry processing boards that were optimized for both detection of the non-pulsatile (DC) waveform component and compatibility with wearable radiotransmitters were built and hardened for experimental use. A previously validated protocol of simulated, sequential fireground tasks was adapted for this project so that it could be performed within the controlled conditions of an environmental chamber. IRB-approved studies using local firefighters as voluntary subjects were then conducted to test the operational feasibility and reliability of the integrated SCBA-oximetry system. These preliminary experiments also correlated DC oximetry with physiologic status by simultaneously monitoring core temperature under conditions of compensable and uncompensable heat stress. The Phase 1 and 2 technical accomplishments and scientific results suggest that SCBA-based oximetry represents a viable future solution for remote, physiologic monitoring of fire ground personnel and a potentially valuable research tool for studying workers at risk for exertion-related heat stress while wearing personal protective equipment. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Firefighters Fires Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Fire Fighters Fire Safety Heat Exposure Heat Stress Monitoring Systems Personal Protective Equipment Physiological Measurements PPE SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Wearable Technologies

  More +
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports   ; Grant Final Reports  
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report ; Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs ; OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-178
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052265
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R44-OH-004173, 2008 Feb; :1-178
• Contact Point Address:
  William P. Wiesmann, MD, Sekos, Inc, 12321 Middlebrook Road, Suite 150, Germantown, MD 20874
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• Performing Organization:
  Sekos, Inc., Germantown, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20000930
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20070930
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fe0dcdfdc29c6efc0f4d7eb50a002f17562fc8fd2c2c9746ec796260bedb47b4a36d200f8ad148d57ccc34a35d02d0aa699653ddf7c3e4e0149857328ee5ded3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218694/cdc_218694_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 18.91 MB ]