In this issue:
- Cooperative research
- Field studies
- Hyponatremia
- Rhabdomyolysis
This report, the 10th in a series, reviews activities related to the Missoula Technology and Development Center's (MTDC) project on wildland firefighter health and safety. The project focuses on three main areas:
- Work, rest, and fatigue: Determine work/rest guidelines, assignment
length, and fatigue countermeasures for crews and overhead employees.
- Energy
and nutrition: Improve the energy intake, nutrition, immune function,
and health of wildland firefighters.
- Fitness and work capacity: Use work capacity and medical standards to ensure the health, safety, and productivity of wildland firefighters.
Since 1962, the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) has maintained a cooperative research agreement with the University of Montana Human Performance Laboratory. The featured topic of this report describes the development of this 45-year relationship, outlines past and recent projects, and seeks the support of readers in identifying additional areas in need of study. The Research section summarizes findings from feeding studies conducted on firefighters during the 2005 fire season. The Risk Management section looks at conditions that can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of heat disorders. The Field Notes section shows how to avoid less common but serious heat disorders: hyponatremia and rhabdomyolysis.
In this 1965 photograph, MTDC employee Cliff Blake
is a subject during
a study of energy, cardiovascular,
and thermal demands of wildland firefighting.
