Preparation & Recovery
Methods to Keep Cool
Fire & Rescue Magazine Pre-Cooling Article
Fire and Rescue magazine produced an extended article on our work on pre-cooling for Fire Instructors, describing practical methods that could aid precooling in training to reduce overall thermal load. This is particularly important if you are doing regular hot wears! - Available to read here
Our research demonstarting ice slurry pre hot exercise wearing PPE, reduces core temperature and physiological strain for up to 35 minutes, in comparison to other cooling methods (Radial cooling and Ice vest).
This work was supported by the South East regional Health Management Group, led by Mick South and Matt Lloyd.
Our research showing high wicking baselayers aid thermogulation and physiolgical strain, better than other under garments when worn under PPE.
Hydration
We have found that staff are generally quite bad at keeping hydrated, especially if they have completed a hot wear or hard activity the previous day. The volume of the fluid required to consumed is often a lot more than you would think. A normal hot wear of 45 mins will probably cause a fluid loss of about 1 - 1.5L. You should then replace this fluid with 150% of what was lost (so 1.5 - 2.25L).
Many stations and training centres have urine colour charts displayed around toilets, but it is important to keep topping up hydration levels so carrying a personal sports bottle around has helped remind many.
