Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.4
Journals
IJERPH
Special Issues
Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of...
ijerph-logo
Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 53166

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marta Ferreiro-González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, IVAGRO, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain
Interests: chemometrics; fire investigation; headspace-mass spectrometry electronic nose; ignitable liquids; petroleum-based products; gasoline; volatile organic compounds; food adulteration; ion mobility spectroscopy; forensic chemistry; analytical chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Gerardo Fernández Barbero

E-Mail Website
Assistant Guest Editor
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, IVAGRO, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain
Interests: chemometrics; fire investigation; headspace-mass spectrometry electronic nose; ignitable liquids; petroleum-based products; volatile organic compounds; food adulteration; ion mobility spectroscopy; forensic chemistry; food analysis; analytical chemistry; HPLC; GC; UHPLC; MS; extraction techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Félix Zapata Arráez

E-Mail Website
Associate Guest Editor
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Interests: vibrational spectroscopy; explosives; terrorism; fire Investigation; bodily fluids; sexual assault crimes; analytical chemistry; forensic chemistry; chemometrics
Prof. Dr. Estrella Espada-Bellido

E-Mail Website
Associate Guest Editor
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, IVAGRO, University of Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Interests: analytical chemistry; food analysis; mushrooms; metals; speciation; bioactive compounds; extraction techniques; ICP-MS; UHPLC; GC-MS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A safe, healthy working environment is an essential condition when it comes to ensuring a good quality of life. This is the reason public administrations together with trade unions have long strived to increase workplace safety by promoting occupational risk prevention. However, work accidents still occur in many workplaces. Identifying potential threats and providing the tools required to minimize their impact is crucial to managing risks. In addition, workplace safety is both a humanitarian and economic concern, so improving working conditions is a global challenge.

Jobs in the police, firefighting, and/or military sectors are considered high-risk in comparison to other occupations since employees in these fields put their lives on the line every day to protect society. Among the many unsafe situations they have regularly to face, exposure to toxic or hazardous substances is one of them. In fact, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) firefighters are among the 18 occupations in which an increase of cancer cases has been demonstrated. After intervention, combustion products (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and metals remain impregnated in their fire suits and other personal protective equipment. Many of these compounds are carcinogenic, such as benzene, benzopyrene, 1,3-butadiene or formaldehyde, as well as heavy metals, such as Ni, Cd, Pb or Cr. For this reason, there is increased concern about the harmful effect that toxic combustion residues could have on firefighters’ health. Similarly, police and military personnel also face situations in which they are exposed to hazardous substances, including combustion products in fire scenes, as explained previously, but also explosive substances in terrorist assaults or gunshot residues from enemy shots or even from their shooting practice. Nevertheless, in these latter cases, the health risk due to chemical exposure to explosives or gunshot residues is negligible in comparison to the imminent physical risk of being fatally wounded by the expansive shockwave of a detonation or by bullets shot. The development and implementation of preventive measures to these and other weapons are also really necessary, such as the development and correct use of protective materials and/or the improvement of police/military intervention techniques. Therefore, all of these threats should be subject of much more research.

This Special Issue in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health offers the opportunity to publish high-quality multidisciplinary research and reviews related to the assessment of the chemical hazards or physical risks of firefighters, police officers, and/or military officers.

Dr. Marta Ferreiro-González
Dr. Gerardo Fernández Barbero
Dr. Félix Zapata Arráez
Dr. Estrella Espada-Bellido
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • occupational risk prevention
  • workplace safety and health
  • high-risk job occupation
  • methods of analysis
  • chemical hazards
  • physical threats
  • operational tactical procedures
  • polices, firefighters, and/or military officers

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (17 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

15 pages, 3573 KiB  
Article
An Analysis of Biomechanical Parameters in OTP Police Physical Intervention Techniques for Occupational Risk Prevention
by José C. Vera-Jiménez, Felipe L. Meléndez-Sánchez, José A. Álvarez and Jesús Ayuso
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6615; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19116615 - 28 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2414
Abstract
(1) Background: a set of ergonomic parameters that are relevant for risk assessment methods for the prevention of occupational risks, such as REBA or NIOSH, have been measured by means of inertial sensors that allow capturing the movements of the human body. These [...] Read more.
(1) Background: a set of ergonomic parameters that are relevant for risk assessment methods for the prevention of occupational risks, such as REBA or NIOSH, have been measured by means of inertial sensors that allow capturing the movements of the human body. These methods base their assessment on a number of postural and dynamic parameters. In the case of police physical intervention techniques, trunk, legs, arms, forearms and wrists angles, joint contact force and sheer force at the L5-Pelvic junction, asymmetry (angle and factor), and muscle power are the more relevant parameters to be considered. (2) Method: The data have been collected by means of a motion capture suit equipped with 19 inertial sensors. The large amount of data and the 3-dimensional plots have been managed by a powerful software package specific for ergonomic analysis. The police physical intervention technique used was OTP. (3) Results: Five ergonomic parameters in a traditional police physical intervention technique have been analyzed. REBA scores and ergonomic metrics have been recorded and discussed with some prevention risk limits from the literature. (4) Conclusions: the usage of inertial sensors to capture the movements in OTPs provides a new and quite an efficient viewpoint for occupational risk research studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1441 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Volatile Compound Transference through Firefighter Turnout Gear
by María José Aliaño-González, Gemma Montalvo, Carmen García-Ruiz, Marta Ferreiro-González and Miguel Palma
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3663; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19063663 - 19 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2060
Abstract
There is high concern about the exposure of firefighters to toxic products or carcinogens resulting from combustion during fire interventions. Firefighter turnout gear is designed to protect against immediate fire hazards but not against chemical agents. Additionally, the decontamination of firefighter personal protective [...] Read more.
There is high concern about the exposure of firefighters to toxic products or carcinogens resulting from combustion during fire interventions. Firefighter turnout gear is designed to protect against immediate fire hazards but not against chemical agents. Additionally, the decontamination of firefighter personal protective equipment remains unresolved. This study evaluated the feasibility of a screening method based on headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) in combination with chemometrics (cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and linear discriminant analysis) for the assessment of the transference of volatile compounds through turnout gear. To achieve this, firefighter turnout gears exposed to two different fire scenes (with different combustion materials) were directly analyzed. We obtained a spectral fingerprint for turnout gears that were both exposed and non-exposed to fire scenes. The results showed that (i): the contamination of the turnout gears is different depending on the type of fire loading; and (ii) it is possible to determine if the turnout gear is free of volatile compounds. Based on the latest results, we concluded that HS-GC-IMS can be applied as a screening technique to assess the quality of turnout gear prior to a new fire intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

9 pages, 636 KiB  
Article
Examination of Factors Influencing SCBA Washing Behavior among Firefighters in Metropolitan
by Hyun Sup Park, Seunghon Ham, Jin Hyeok Jeong, Soo Jin Kim and Hyekyung Woo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2240; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19042240 - 16 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2053
Abstract
Field-washing decontamination of equipment is an effective way for firefighters to reduce their risk of secondary contamination. No study has yet clarified the factors influencing effective field decontamination of equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs). This study sought to examine factors that [...] Read more.
Field-washing decontamination of equipment is an effective way for firefighters to reduce their risk of secondary contamination. No study has yet clarified the factors influencing effective field decontamination of equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs). This study sought to examine factors that influence the SCBA washing and decontamination behavior of firefighters. We conducted a questionnaire using the web-based Seoul Metropolitan Electronic Questionnaire System. As of May 2021, the survey had been sent to 3626 of 7198 Seoul career firefighters, and 1940 subjects were selected to participate in the study. Binomial logistic regression and χ2-test analyses were performed. We confirmed that previous training in SCBA washing was an important factor in effective field decontamination of SCBAs. Firefighters should be trained to perform field decontamination procedures systematically and regulations to perform field decontamination before leaving the scene of a fire should be introduced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1458 KiB  
Article
Occupational Risk of Low-Level Blast Exposure and TBI-Related Medical Diagnoses: A Population-Based Epidemiological Investigation (2005–2015)
by Jennifer N. Belding, Robyn Englert, James Bonkowski and Cynthia J. Thomsen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 12925; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182412925 - 08 Dec 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2572
Abstract
Because traumatic brain injury (TBI)—most often caused by exposure to high-level blast (HLB)—is a leading cause of medical evacuations of deployed U.S. service members in recent conflicts, researchers seek to identify risk factors for TBI. Previous research using self-reported data has identified low-level [...] Read more.
Because traumatic brain injury (TBI)—most often caused by exposure to high-level blast (HLB)—is a leading cause of medical evacuations of deployed U.S. service members in recent conflicts, researchers seek to identify risk factors for TBI. Previous research using self-reported data has identified low-level blast (LLB) as one such risk factor and suggests an association with susceptibility to and symptoms associated with TBI. This article presents a population-based study of all branches of military service that examines the association between occupational risk for LLB and both clinically diagnosed TBIs—from concussions to severe and penetrating TBIs—and conditions commonly comorbid with concussion. Using archival medical and career records from >2 million service members between 2005–2015, this work demonstrates that occupational risk of LLB is associated with any TBI, mild TBI, moderate TBI, cognitive problems, communication problems, hearing problems, headaches, any behavioral health condition, anxiety, drug abuse/dependence, alcohol abuse/dependence, delirium/dementia, posttraumatic stress disorder, post-concussive syndrome, tinnitus, fatigue, and migraines. Understanding the full scope of the effects of LLB on service members will help ensure the health and readiness of service members and may influence both military policy and clinical practice guidelines for blast-induced injuries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2743 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of an Ozone Chamber as a Routine Method to Decontaminate Firefighters’ PPE
by Marcella A. de Melo Lucena, Félix Zapata, Filipe Gabriel M. Mauricio, Fernando E. Ortega-Ojeda, M. Gloria Quintanilla-López, Ingrid Távora Weber and Gemma Montalvo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10587; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182010587 - 09 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2196
Abstract
Ozone chambers have emerged as an alternative method to decontaminate firefighters’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from toxic fire residues. This work evaluated the efficiency of using an ozone chamber to clean firefighters’ PPE. This was achieved by studying the degradation of pyrene and [...] Read more.
Ozone chambers have emerged as an alternative method to decontaminate firefighters’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from toxic fire residues. This work evaluated the efficiency of using an ozone chamber to clean firefighters’ PPE. This was achieved by studying the degradation of pyrene and 9-methylanthracene polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The following experiments were performed: (i) insufflating ozone into PAH solutions (homogeneous setup), and (ii) exposing pieces of PPE impregnated with the PAHs to an ozone atmosphere for up to one hour (heterogeneous setup). The ozonolysis products were assessed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), and Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis. In the homogeneous experiments, compounds of a higher molecular weight were produced due to the incorporation of oxygen into the PAH structures. Some of these new compounds included 4-oxapyren-5-one (m/z 220) and phenanthrene-4,5-dicarboxaldehyde (m/z 234) from pyrene; or 9-anthracenecarboxaldehyde (m/z 207) and hydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione (m/z 225) from 9-methylanthracene. In the heterogeneous experiments, a lower oxidation was revealed, since no byproducts were detected using FTIR and TLC, but only using MS. However, in both experiments, significant amounts of the original PAHs were still present even after one hour of ozone treatment. Thus, although some partial chemical degradation was observed, the remaining PAH and the new oxygenated-PAH compounds (equally or more toxic than the initial molecules) alerted us of the risks to firefighters’ health when using an ozone chamber as a unique decontamination method. These results do not prove the ozone-advertised efficiency of the ozone chambers for decontaminating (degrading the toxic combustion residues into innocuous compounds) firefighters’ PPE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 2406 KiB  
Article
Occupational Safety of Municipal Police Officers: Assessing the Vulnerability and Riskiness of Police Officers’ Work
by Viktor Soltes, Jozef Kubas, Andrej Velas and David Michalík
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5605; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18115605 - 24 May 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2879
Abstract
The municipal police agencies increase the safety of a municipality’s citizens and thus increase their quality of life. When performing interventions, municipal police officers may endanger their safety and health. This paper deals with the analysis of the riskiness of municipal police officers [...] Read more.
The municipal police agencies increase the safety of a municipality’s citizens and thus increase their quality of life. When performing interventions, municipal police officers may endanger their safety and health. This paper deals with the analysis of the riskiness of municipal police officers working in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic from 2004 to 2019 and the assessment of their occupational safety. The risk analysis was carried out on the basis of a risk matrix and calculations of the probability of attack and injury to municipal police officers. Using the Pearson correlation coefficient, the dependence between the selected variables was investigated. The reliability of this dependence was examined by the determination coefficient. The main result of the paper is the determination of the riskiness category of municipal police officer work based on the assessment of the occupational health protection of officers through statistical indicators of their activities and risk matrix. The results will serve as part of the explanatory memorandum for the proposal of legislative changes in order to increase the occupational health protection of municipal police officers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 3491 KiB  
Article
Hypertension in the United States Fire Service
by Saeed U. Khaja, Kevin C. Mathias, Emilie D. Bode, Donald F. Stewart, Kepra Jack, Steven M. Moffatt and Denise L. Smith
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5432; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18105432 - 19 May 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2677
Abstract
Hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac remodeling and is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac events, the leading cause of duty-related death in the fire service. We assessed systemic blood pressures and prevalence of hypertension [...] Read more.
Hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac remodeling and is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac events, the leading cause of duty-related death in the fire service. We assessed systemic blood pressures and prevalence of hypertension among US firefighters by decade of life. Medical records of career firefighters (5063 males and 274 females) from four geographically diverse occupational health clinics were assessed. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. Results from the firefighter sample were compared to the US general population (2015–2016 and 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys). Among the total sample, 69% of firefighters met the criteria for hypertension and 17% were taking antihypertensive medications. Percentages of hypertensive male and female firefighters were 45% and 11% among 20–29 years old, respectively, and increased to 78% and 79% among 50–59 years old, respectively. Compared to the general population, male firefighters had a higher prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.05) across all age groups (11–16% higher). In order to improve firefighter health and protect against sudden incapacitation in this public safety occupational group, increased efforts are necessary to screen for and manage high blood pressure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 5059 KiB  
Article
Detecting Chemical Vapor Diffusion through Firefighter Turnout Gear
by Michelle A. Corbally, Mary R. Williams, Jessica N. Chappell and Michael E. Sigman
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4833; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18094833 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2677
Abstract
Firefighters are exposed to burning materials that may release toxic partial combustion and pyrolysis products into the environment, including compounds listed as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A novel passive sampling dosimeter device containing firefighter turnout gear as [...] Read more.
Firefighters are exposed to burning materials that may release toxic partial combustion and pyrolysis products into the environment, including compounds listed as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A novel passive sampling dosimeter device containing firefighter turnout gear as a diffusion membrane and an activated charcoal strip (ACS) for volatile analyte collection was designed and used to monitor potential exposures of firefighters to volatile organic compounds. Solvent extracts from the ACS and turnout gear diffusion layer were analyzed using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the diffusion of compounds from burned substrates through firefighter turnout gear and compound adsorption to the turnout gear. The compounds in these samples were identified using target factor analysis (TFA). An activated carbon layer (ACL) was added to the dosimeter between the turnout gear and the ACS. The presence of combustion and pyrolysis compounds identified on the ACS in the dosimeter was reduced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 357 KiB  
Article
Trauma and Mental Health Awareness in Emergency Service Workers: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Behind the Seen Education Workshops
by Andrea Fogarty, Zachary Steel, Philip B. Ward, Katherine M. Boydell, Grace McKeon and Simon Rosenbaum
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4418; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18094418 - 21 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4368
Abstract
Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Programs led by ex-service organizations may play an unrecognized but critical role in mental health prevention and promotion. Behind the Seen (BTS) is an Australian [...] Read more.
Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Programs led by ex-service organizations may play an unrecognized but critical role in mental health prevention and promotion. Behind the Seen (BTS) is an Australian ex-service organization that runs workshops to raise awareness and facilitate conversations around the mental health of ESWs. The purpose of the study is to conduct a qualitative evaluation of workshop participants’ experiences, to understand the acceptability and perceived usefulness over the immediate- (within 1 month), intermediate- (6 months) and longer-terms (12 months). Participants (n = 59 ESWs) were recruited using purposive sampling across five fire and rescue services in metropolitan, regional, and rural locations. Focus groups methodology was used for data collection and data were analyzed using iterative categorization techniques. Participants reported (i) a high perceived need for education about PTSD, (ii) highly salient aspects of the presentation that made for a positive learning experience, including the importance of the lived experiences of the facilitators in the learning process, (iii) key features of changes to intentions, attitudes, and behavior, and (iv) major aspects of the organizational context that affected the understanding and uptake of the program’s key messages. BTS was perceived as an acceptable means of delivering mental health, PTSD, and help-seeking information to ESWs. The program is a promising candidate for scaling-up and further translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
11 pages, 331 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Resilience of the Hellenic Navy Seals by Electrodermal Activity during Cognitive Tasks
by Stamatis Mourtakos, Georgia Vassiliou, Konstantinos Kontoangelos, Christos Papageorgiou, Anastasios Philippou, Fragkiskos Bersimis, Nikolaos Geladas, Michael Koutsilieris, Labros S. Sidossis, Charalampos Tsirmpas, Charalabos Papageorgiou and Konstantina G. Yiannopoulou
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4384; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18084384 - 20 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3045
Abstract
Stress resilience plays a key role in task performance during emergencies, especially in occupations like military special forces, with a routine consisting of unexpected events. Nevertheless, reliable and applicable measurements of resilience in predicting task performance in stressful conditions are still researched. This [...] Read more.
Stress resilience plays a key role in task performance during emergencies, especially in occupations like military special forces, with a routine consisting of unexpected events. Nevertheless, reliable and applicable measurements of resilience in predicting task performance in stressful conditions are still researched. This study aimed to explore the stress response in the Hellenic Navy SEALs (HN-SEALs), using a cognitive–physiological approach. Eighteen candidates under intense preparation for their enlistment in the HN-SEALs and 16 healthy controls (HCs) underwent Stroop tests, along with mental-state and personality examination. Simultaneously, electrodermal activity (EDA) was assessed during each one of cognitive testing procedures. Compared to healthy control values, multiple components of EDA values were found decreased (p < 0.05) in the HN-SEALs group. These results were associated with an increase in resilience level in the HN-SEALs group, since a restricted sympathetic reactivity according to the reduced EDA values was observed during the stressful cognitive testing. This is the first report providing physiological measurements of the sympathetic response of HN-SEALs to a stressful situation and suggests that EDA turns out to be a simple and objective tool of sympathetic activation and it may be used as a complementary index of resilience in HN-SEALs candidates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
7 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
Normative Data for Blood Pressure in Croatian War Veterans: A Population-Based Study
by Mario Kasović, Zvonimir Kalčik, Lovro Štefan, Andro Štefan, Damir Knjaz and Marijana Braš
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4175; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18084175 - 15 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1807
Abstract
Purpose: The current study aimed to investigate the normative data for blood pressure. Materials and Methods: From 2017 to 2020, 2032 men and women classified as ‘war veterans’ were recruited (mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 60.97 ± 7.98 years; mean stature: 172.50 [...] Read more.
Purpose: The current study aimed to investigate the normative data for blood pressure. Materials and Methods: From 2017 to 2020, 2032 men and women classified as ‘war veterans’ were recruited (mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 60.97 ± 7.98 years; mean stature: 172.50 ± 9.10 cm; mean body mass: 90.25 ± 36.45 kg; mean body-mass index: 29.66 ± 5.59 kg/m2; 29.9% women). Their systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured three times. The procedure was carried out according to the American Heart Organization. The sex-specific and age-specific normative data for the 5th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (measured as SBP-DBP) and mid-BP (the average of SBP and DBP) were presented. Results: The men had higher SBP (p < 0.001), DBP (p < 0.001), pulse pressure (p < 0.001) and mid-BP (p < 0.001) compared to the women. The age-specific differences showed that older individuals had higher values of SBP (p < 0.001), pulse pressure (p < 0.001), and mid-BP (p < 0.001), while no significant differences for DBP (p = 0.496) were observed. Conclusions: This is the first study providing sex-specific and age-specific normative data for blood pressure in war veterans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
13 pages, 372 KiB  
Article
Trauma and Coping Strategies in Police Officers: A Quantitative-Qualitative Pilot Study
by Cristina Civilotti, Giulia Di Fini and Daniela Acquadro Maran
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(3), 982; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18030982 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5158
Abstract
Background. Because of their work, emergency workers, such as police officers (POs), are exposed to traumatic events on a daily basis. These experiences can have consequences in terms of physical and emotional stress. Primary attachment relationships affect the development of coping strategies for [...] Read more.
Background. Because of their work, emergency workers, such as police officers (POs), are exposed to traumatic events on a daily basis. These experiences can have consequences in terms of physical and emotional stress. Primary attachment relationships affect the development of coping strategies for dealing with stressful events (primarily hyperactivating strategies in entangled adults and hypo-activating strategies in dismissing adults). In this study, we explored how POs describe the experience of traumatic accidents, the effects they reported and their coping strategies related to their attachment style. Methods. We used a quantitative-qualitative method. Thirty-nine POs were administered the Beck Depression Inventory, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a semi-structured interview about traumatic events and reactions. Interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results. Traumatic events at work predominantly concerned aggressions, witnessing deaths, forced hospitalizations, and domestic violence involving children. POs with a responsible role were more likely than POs to use security-based strategies. Most POs narrated overactivation and deactivation strategies, which were associated with depressive symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. Conclusions. These results can be useful to improve trauma-informed interventions for POs based on their different attachment styles and coping strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
10 pages, 1317 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Firefighter Physical Fitness and Special Ability Performance: Predictive Research Based on Machine Learning Algorithms
by Datao Xu, Yang Song, Yao Meng, Bíró István and Yaodong Gu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(20), 7689; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17207689 - 21 Oct 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3389
Abstract
Firefighters require a high level of physical fitness to meet the demands of their job. The correlations and contributions of individual physical health parameters to the tasks of firefighting would enable firefighters to focus on the effects of specific physical conditions during their [...] Read more.
Firefighters require a high level of physical fitness to meet the demands of their job. The correlations and contributions of individual physical health parameters to the tasks of firefighting would enable firefighters to focus on the effects of specific physical conditions during their physical training programs. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to identify the relationships between various physical health parameters (weight, maximum oxygen uptake, body fat percentage, upper body muscular power and lower body muscular power) and performance on simulated firefighting ability tasks, which included a set of seven tasks (rope climb, run 200 m round trip with load, 60 m carrying a ladder, climb stairs with load, evacuation of 400 m with supplies, run 5 km with an air respirator, run 100 m with the water hose). Through use of a partial least-squares regression (PLSR) algorithm to analyze the linear correlation, we revealed the change in various training performances of specific ability tests with physical fitness parameters. The present study demonstrated significant relationships among physical health parameters and performance on simulated firefighting ability tasks, which also represent that those parameters contributed significantly to the model’s predictive power and were suitable predictors of the simulated firefighting tasks score. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 344 KiB  
Article
Effects of Occupational and Leisure-Time Physical Activities on Insomnia in Korean Firefighters
by Myeongseob Lim, Kyoung Sook Jeong, Sung-Soo Oh, Sang-Baek Koh, Sei-Jin Chang and Yeon-Soon Ahn
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5397; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17155397 - 27 Jul 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1994
Abstract
Studies have been conducted on the association between physical activity (PA) and sleep, but to the best of our knowledge, a simultaneous analysis of the effects of occupational PA (OPA) and leisure time PA (LTPA) on South Korean firefighters’ sleep has never been [...] Read more.
Studies have been conducted on the association between physical activity (PA) and sleep, but to the best of our knowledge, a simultaneous analysis of the effects of occupational PA (OPA) and leisure time PA (LTPA) on South Korean firefighters’ sleep has never been conducted. This study aims to analyze how OPA and LTPA affect these individuals’ risk of suffering from insomnia with-in this specific population of subjects. The study includes data from an online self-report survey in which 9788 South Korean firefighters participated. The survey used the Insomnia Severity Index and the OPA- and LTPA-related characteristics were investigated. The independent two-sample t-test, χ2 test, and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. Subgroup logistic regression analyses were also completed in accordance with the OPA level. Among 9788 participants, 890 (9.1%) suffered from insomnia. A logistic regression analysis revealed that higher levels of feeling of job loading (FoJL), rising levels of physical strength utilization rate (PSUR), greater frequency levels of occupational activities, and high-intensity LTPA were significantly correlated with an increased risk of insomnia, while execution of LTPA and getting enough rest after LTPA was correlated with a decreased risk. However, the subgroup analysis showed that high-intensity LTPA was correlated with a significantly increased the risk in the group with high OPA, but this did not apply to the group with low OPA. Although the risk of suffering from insomnia was overall significantly higher in the high OPA group, the risk was significantly lower in groups getting enough rest after partaking in LTPA, regardless of the OPA level. Thus, the intensity of exercise programs pre-scribed to groups with high OPA and individuals with higher risks of suffering from insomnia, such as firefighters, police officers, and soldiers, should be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
13 pages, 1686 KiB  
Article
A Legal and Forensic Medicine Approach to Police Physical Intervention Techniques in High-Risk Situations
by José C. Vera-Jiménez, José A. Lorente, Lucas González-Herrera, José A. Álvarez, Marta Ferreiro-González and Jesús Ayuso
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(8), 2809; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17082809 - 19 Apr 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5754
Abstract
Background: The physical intervention techniques (PITs) typically used by the police in troublesome situations are examined in terms of injuring potential depending on whether they target a body zone of high, medium or low vulnerability. Based on legal and forensic considerations, and [...] Read more.
Background: The physical intervention techniques (PITs) typically used by the police in troublesome situations are examined in terms of injuring potential depending on whether they target a body zone of high, medium or low vulnerability. Based on legal and forensic considerations, and principles of congruence, opportunity and proportionality, a need exists to favor opponent locking and arrest techniques targeting non-vulnerable zones to minimize the risk of severe damage. Methods: A search of the training manuals for the different kind of law of enforcement officers was carried out. Revision of injuries was available from electronic databases of academic o medical journals. Results: Three different locking and arrest PITs based on operational tactical procedures (OTP) that avoid zones of high or medium vulnerability are proposed. The new techniques use blocking, diverting and grabbing of the upper and lower limbs, followed by dislocation and locking of the same targets. Conclusions: The damaging potential of such PITs was assessed in terms of anatomical region and most were found to have a high risk of severe damage. The alternative PITs proposed here, which rely on OTP, improve in legal and forensic medical terms on existing choices and dramatically reduce the risk of injuring arrestees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

28 pages, 674 KiB  
Review
Non-Invasive Physiological Monitoring for Physical Exertion and Fatigue Assessment in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review
by Denisse Bustos, Joana C. Guedes, Mário P. Vaz, Eduardo Pombo, Ricardo J. Fernandes, José Torres Costa and João Santos Baptista
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8815; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18168815 - 20 Aug 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4167
Abstract
During operational activities, military personnel face extremely demanding circumstances, which when combined lead to severe fatigue, influencing both their well-being and performance. Physical exertion is the main condition leading to fatigue, and its continuous tracking would help prevent its effects. This review aimed [...] Read more.
During operational activities, military personnel face extremely demanding circumstances, which when combined lead to severe fatigue, influencing both their well-being and performance. Physical exertion is the main condition leading to fatigue, and its continuous tracking would help prevent its effects. This review aimed to investigate the up-to-date progress on non-invasive physiological monitoring to evaluate situations of physical exertion as a pre-condition to fatigue in military populations, and determine the potential associations between physiological responses and fatigue, which can later result in decision-making indicators to prevent health-related consequences. Adhering to the PRISMA Statement, four databases (Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and PubMed) were used for a literature search based on combinations of keywords. The eligibility criteria focused on studies monitoring physiological variables through non-invasive objective measurements, with these measurements being developed in military field, combat, or training conditions. The review process led to the inclusion of 20 studies. The findings established the importance of multivariable assessments in a real-life context to accurately characterise the effects of military practices. A tendency for examining heart rate variables, thermal responses, and actigraphy measurements was also identified. The objectives and experimental protocols were diverse, but the effectiveness of non-invasive measurements in identifying the most fatigue-inducing periods was demonstrated. Nevertheless, no assessment system for standardised application was presented. Future work may include the development of assessment methods to translate physiological recordings into actionable information in real-time and mitigate the effects of fatigue on soldiers’ performance accurately. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

9 pages, 774 KiB  
Project Report
Using Collaborative Partnerships to Engage Firefighters in Rural Communities
by Ritchie Taylor, Gretchen Macy, Jooyeon Hwang, Vijay Golla, Charles Cann and Edrisa Sanyang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2009; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19042009 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1694
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to utilize community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to identify behaviors that may increase the exposure rates of firefighters to carcinogens and other occupational hazards. Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted as part of a larger [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to utilize community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to identify behaviors that may increase the exposure rates of firefighters to carcinogens and other occupational hazards. Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted as part of a larger study that included exposure assessments at fire stations, in fire engines, and in personal vehicles. A purposive sample of five fire chiefs and leaders of the firefighter association was chosen, and these individuals were selected to participate in interviews. Unstructured interviews explored issues related to firefighter exposures and occupational hazards. Three focus groups were conducted over a three-month period. Following the focus groups, survey questions emphasizing the following three aspects of firefighting were developed: exposure to airborne smoke contaminants during fire suppression, accumulated exposure on turnout gear after fire suppression, and exposure to airborne contaminants at the fire departments. The use of community-based participatory research can be very beneficial, especially when conducting research with a group that may be hard to reach or have misgivings regarding researchers. By utilizing this approach in the current study, researchers were able to partner with a community that may be hard to reach and gain buy-in from community leadership. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-17
Back to TopTop