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Perceptions of Heat Stress, Heat Strain and Mitigation Practices in Wildfire Suppression across Southern Europe and Latin America

Author

Listed:
  • Belén Carballo-Leyenda

    (VALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • José Gerardo Villa-Vicente

    (VALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • Giuseppe M. Delogu

    (Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources (DipNeT), University of Sassari, Sardinia, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Jose A. Rodríguez-Marroyo

    (VALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, 24071 León, Spain)

  • Domingo M. Molina-Terrén

    (Department of Crops and Forest Sciences, School of Agrifood and Forestry Science and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess current perceptions of heat stress, heat strain, acclimatisation and recovery practices in wildland fire suppression. A total of 1459 wildfire and structural firefighters, all involved in wildland fire suppression, completed an 18-question survey. Most participants (81.3%) reported heat strain as one of the main risks faced during wildland firefighting. Thermal strain is considered an important risk for health and safety in wildland firefighting. The best-valued heat strain mitigation strategies were those traditionally recommended in wildland fire suppression: (i) an adequate work/rest ratio (79.0%), (ii) acclimatisation (71.6%), (iii) enhancing body ventilation by opening protective clothing or removing helmets or gloves (63.5%), and (iv) drinking water and food supplementation (52.1%). Despite these results, only 22% of the participants reported carrying out acclimatisation in the workplace. The vast majority of the respondents (87.4%) consider active cooling strategies (i.e., ice slurry ingestion, ice vests, etc.) impractical in combating heat strain during wildfire suppression. We identified a gap between knowledge about heat strain, its mitigation strategies and the level of actual implementation of these practices in the workplace. Our results highlight the need to improve heat strain management and implement operational directives for acclimatisation and active cooling interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Belén Carballo-Leyenda & José Gerardo Villa-Vicente & Giuseppe M. Delogu & Jose A. Rodríguez-Marroyo & Domingo M. Molina-Terrén, 2022. "Perceptions of Heat Stress, Heat Strain and Mitigation Practices in Wildfire Suppression across Southern Europe and Latin America," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12288-:d:927187
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