Working well under tremendous strain for relatively short periods is a topic of great importance in firefighting. This study put firefighters through a series of stressful solo smoke dives around a dark, winding simulation track to examine how their stress reactions affected their cognitive function. Male firefighters' heart rates were recorded during a smoke-diving exercise and compared with baseline readings and maximal rates. Male firefighters were used to studying these stressors. The firefighters thought aloud as they performed the smoke-diving maneuver to demonstrate their mental acuity. This study used a content analysis review of the literature published between the years 2017 to 2021 to define the problem, outline its complexities, and find needed solutions from dispersed sources.
TopIntroduction
Professional firefighters face several stressful conditions during their employment, including strenuous and constant physical demands, a hostile environment, anxiety, uncertainty, and the responsibility to save people (Klimley et al., 2018). Firefighting is psychologically and physically demanding because of the nature of the job, which includes putting out flames, handling hazardous materials, searching for victims, and performing rescues for an unpredictable period (Igboanugo et al., 2021). Firefighters are exposed to several health risks (such as burns, smoke, and falls) and unpredictability due to their duties; working in hot situations also puts strain on them physically and mentally (Barros et al., 2021). During operations involving extinguishing flames and preserving life, maintaining high levels of cognitive function and the capacity to process information is crucial (Hemmatjo et al., 2020). Firefighters must communicate quickly with their leaders and other firefighters during operations to put out flames and save lives (Nowak & Łukomska, 2021). When there is a fire, they need to find their way around in the darkness, heat, and smoke to help others trapped. Although there is literature on the effects of firefighting actions and the resulting influence on physiological response, there is a shortage of studies on the impact of these tasks on information processing and work performance. Firefighters require the ability to cope with complex events and control their emotional responses to catastrophic and devastating sights. Also, they must be quick to digest information and be confident in making the right choices under pressure. Thus, it is possible for firefighters' focus, information processing, and productivity to shift during firefighting and rescue operations.
Currently, there is a lack of research on how cognitive function changes during simulated firefighting operations. Understanding how cooling methods as an intervention program affects firefighters’ working memory and information processing is entirely restricted (Song et al., 2020). Based on previous findings, it is concluded that firefighters' information processing, working memory capacity, and job performance suffer due to their occupation (Stanley et al., 2018). Stanley et al. (2018) concluded that implementing body cooling techniques via practical cooling devices would enhance cognitive performance, including processing speed, working memory, and physical endurance, when performing firefighting duties while wearing protective clothing. To that end, this study's participants engaged in a series of simulated firefighting operations in a smoke-diving room before and after real-world fires to compare the effects of these tasks on firefighters' information processing, working memory capacity, and job performance. The findings are also expected to provide insight into which cooling methods have the potential to enhance data-processing capacity and physical capacity during firefighting operations.
Background
Oklahoma firefighters are tasked with more than just putting out fires; they also respond to and assist with a wide range of rescue and emergencies arising from car crashes, natural disasters, and other large-scale events. Carbon monoxide, phosgene, and extreme heat are dangers firefighters face while responding to fires. Furthermore, firefighters have high-stress levels on the job due to the mental strain of sitting around for extended periods and the chronic lack of sleep that is a consequence of working shifts (Hemmatjo et al., 2020). Research such as the one by Hemmatjo et al. (2020) have confirmed that simulated firefighting activities influence a firefighters' cognitive function. Firefighter suicide rates and mental health problems like depression and PTSD are much higher than the general population (Scott et al., 2021). The average suicide rate of first responders in the United States is 47 percent, two times higher than the general population (Scott et al., 2021). Neurocognitive performance may also be related to these risk factors in firefighters. Stress and the heat stress that comes with it may have deleterious effects on neurocognitive performance. A recent study suggests that PTSD and depression are linked to memory loss in firefighters (Armstrong et al., 2019). These mental health factors can affect the safety of firefighters and the public.