Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative Review
Background/Objectives: Wildland firefighters (WFFs) are subjected to significant physical and physiological demands that expose them to substantial occupational risks, including thermal stress, prolonged physical exertion, and exposure to harmful substances. These factors not only affect their immed...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/80 |
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| author | Fabio García-Heras Jorge Gutiérrez-Arroyo Juan Rodríguez-Medina Belén Carballo-Leyenda Pilar Sánchez-Collado Gerardo Villa-Vicente Jose A. Rodríguez-Marroyo |
| author_facet | Fabio García-Heras Jorge Gutiérrez-Arroyo Juan Rodríguez-Medina Belén Carballo-Leyenda Pilar Sánchez-Collado Gerardo Villa-Vicente Jose A. Rodríguez-Marroyo |
| author_sort | Fabio García-Heras |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Wildland firefighters (WFFs) are subjected to significant physical and physiological demands that expose them to substantial occupational risks, including thermal stress, prolonged physical exertion, and exposure to harmful substances. These factors not only affect their immediate performance but also have long-term implications for their health. This narrative review seeks to analyze the main factors influencing the health and performance of WFFs, with a particular focus on physical, environmental, and psychological challenges. Methods: A narrative review was performed, synthesizing data from diverse sources. The analysis centered on studies addressing the physiological, environmental, and psychological aspects of WFF performance. Specific topics included physical workload, exposure to environmental stressors, use of protective equipment, hydration, sleep patterns, and mental health. Results: The review highlights several critical challenges faced by WFFs, including the extreme physical demands of carrying heavy equipment during extended interventions, elevated physiological strain induced by protective gear, and significant health risks associated with smoke inhalation and dehydration. Additionally, inadequate sleep and heightened mental stress were found to impair both cognitive and physical performance. Variations in injury prevalence and patterns of chronic pain were observed, often influenced by factors such as sex, age, and professional experience. Conclusion: To mitigate these risks and enhance the health and performance of WFFs, targeted interventions are essential. These include tailored physical training programs, heat acclimatization strategies, and improved resource management. Future research should aim to integrate these measures comprehensively and address existing knowledge gaps to ensure the long-term well-being of these professionals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c8b83fffc34b45e894b55cddd6d16135 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2411-5142 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c8b83fffc34b45e894b55cddd6d161352025-08-20T01:48:52ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-02-011018010.3390/jfmk10010080Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative ReviewFabio García-Heras0Jorge Gutiérrez-Arroyo1Juan Rodríguez-Medina2Belén Carballo-Leyenda3Pilar Sánchez-Collado4Gerardo Villa-Vicente5Jose A. Rodríguez-Marroyo6VALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, 24071 León, SpainVALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, 24071 León, SpainVALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, 24071 León, SpainVALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, 24071 León, SpainVALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, 24071 León, SpainVALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, 24071 León, SpainVALFIS Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, 24071 León, SpainBackground/Objectives: Wildland firefighters (WFFs) are subjected to significant physical and physiological demands that expose them to substantial occupational risks, including thermal stress, prolonged physical exertion, and exposure to harmful substances. These factors not only affect their immediate performance but also have long-term implications for their health. This narrative review seeks to analyze the main factors influencing the health and performance of WFFs, with a particular focus on physical, environmental, and psychological challenges. Methods: A narrative review was performed, synthesizing data from diverse sources. The analysis centered on studies addressing the physiological, environmental, and psychological aspects of WFF performance. Specific topics included physical workload, exposure to environmental stressors, use of protective equipment, hydration, sleep patterns, and mental health. Results: The review highlights several critical challenges faced by WFFs, including the extreme physical demands of carrying heavy equipment during extended interventions, elevated physiological strain induced by protective gear, and significant health risks associated with smoke inhalation and dehydration. Additionally, inadequate sleep and heightened mental stress were found to impair both cognitive and physical performance. Variations in injury prevalence and patterns of chronic pain were observed, often influenced by factors such as sex, age, and professional experience. Conclusion: To mitigate these risks and enhance the health and performance of WFFs, targeted interventions are essential. These include tailored physical training programs, heat acclimatization strategies, and improved resource management. Future research should aim to integrate these measures comprehensively and address existing knowledge gaps to ensure the long-term well-being of these professionals.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/80occupational healthforest firefightingphysiological demands |
| spellingShingle | Fabio García-Heras Jorge Gutiérrez-Arroyo Juan Rodríguez-Medina Belén Carballo-Leyenda Pilar Sánchez-Collado Gerardo Villa-Vicente Jose A. Rodríguez-Marroyo Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative Review Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology occupational health forest firefighting physiological demands |
| title | Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Determinants of Health and Performance in Wildland Firefighters: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | determinants of health and performance in wildland firefighters a narrative review |
| topic | occupational health forest firefighting physiological demands |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/80 |
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