First Responder - Health and Safety Research Laboratory

Mission

The mission of the First Responder Health and Safety Research Center is to enhance the health, safety and performance of first responders by conducting scientific research elucidating the dangers faced by first responders, and developing and testing interventions to mitigate those dangers.

Goals

The goals of the First Responder Health and Safety Research Center

1. Promote the health, safety and optimal performance of first responders.
2. Conduct scientific research that documents the magnitude of physiological strain associated with performing required job tasks.
3. Develop strategies to mitigate physiological strain and increase performance of first responders and test the effectiveness of those strategies.
4. Communicate with first responders and governing bodies regarding strategies to improve health and safety and enhance performance.

Research Focus Areas

• Physiological responses to heat stress
• Characterization of physiological response to specific operations
• Personal protective equipment
• Physiological status monitoring
• Rehabilitation strategies
• Cardiovascular responses to firefighting
• Role of physical fitness in mitigating stress
• Nutritional strategies to enhance performance

Collaborations

• Skidmore Professors Collaborate to Advance Firefighter Safety
  
• University of Illinois Fire Service Institute
• University of California at UCLA
• Globe Manufacturing
• Propel LLC
• Cantimer
• QinetiQ-Foster Miller
• Zephyr

Publications

• Drs. Smith and Fehling publish major report to U.S. Fire Service. Follow the link for the full publication.
• • Sudden Cardiac Events in the Fire Service: Understanding the Cause and Mitigating the Risk
    
    
• Skidmore Research Team to present two projects at the American College of Sports Medicine 58th Annual Meeting. Follow the links to view the abstracts.
• • Cardiovascular Responses to Firefighting Activities: A Field Study

  • Effect of Base Layers on Physiological and Perceptual Strain during Exercise in Personal Protective Equipment

• Smith DL, Petruzzello SJ, Goldstein E, Ahmad U, Tangella K, Freund GG, et al. Effect of live-fire training drills on firefighters platelet number and function. Prehosp Emerg Care 2011; 15(2):233-239.

• Horn GP, Gutzmer S, Fahs CA, Petruzzello SJ, Goldstein E, Fahy GC, et al. Physiological recovery from firefighting activites in rehabilitation and beyond. Prehosp Emerg Care 2011; 15(2):214-225.

• Fahs CA, Smith DL, Horn GP, Agiovlasitis S, Rossow LM, Echols G, et al. Impact of excess body weight on arterial structure, function, and blood pressure in firefighters. Am J Cardiol 2009; 104(10):1441-1445.

• Petruzzello SJ, Gapin JI, Snook E, Smith DL. Perceptual and physiological heat strain: examination in firefighters in laboratory- and field-based studies. Ergonomics 2009; 52(6):747-754.

Recent Conferences/Presentations

• Firehouse World - Feb. 28, 2011, San Diego, CA
• • "Protecting the Protectors: The Physiological Health Assessment Sensor for Emergency Responders (PHASER) Program"
  • Firehouse World Conference
    
    
• Fire Department Instructors Conference - Mar. 21-26, 2011, Indianapolis, IN
• • Presentation: "Sudden Cardiac Death: Why Are Firefighters at Risk?"
  • Fire Department Instructors Conference
    

Upcoming Presentations

• American College of Sports Medicine 58th Annual Meeting - May 31-Jun. 4, 2011, Denver, CO
• • American College of Sports Medicine Conference