Effect of a Simulated Mine Rescue on Physiological Variables and Heat Strain of Mine Rescue Workers.

OBJECTIVE

To describe physiological responses of mine rescuers during a simulated mine emergency.

METHODS

Body-worn monitors (n = 74) and core temperature (Tc) capsules (n = 54) assessed heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), energy expenditure (EE), oxygen consumption ((Equation is included in full-text article.)), Tc and skin temperature (Tskin), by team position and task. A multivariate analysis was performed with team positions, tasks, and measures as factors.

RESULTS

HRmean and HRpeak were 78.6% and 94.5%, respectively, of predicted maximum heart rate. Arduous labor tasks elicited higher HR, RR, and (Equation is included in full-text article.)than casualty care. Captains exhibited lower HRmean, HRpeak, RR, RRpeak, (Equation is included in full-text article.), Tc, and Tskin compared with other positions. Tc mean exceeded 38.6 °C (n = 14 recorded Tc >39 °C).

CONCLUSIONS

Captains' physical loading and heat stress were lowest. Nonetheless, all tasks and positions induced high physical load and heat strain.