Psychophysiological responses of firefighters to day and night rescue interventions

Philémon Marcel-Millet; Alain Groslambert; Philippe Gimenez; Sidney Grosprêtre; Gilles Ravier

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103457

Psychophysiological responses of firefighters to day and night rescue interventions

Appl Ergon. 2021 Sep:95:103457. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103457. Epub 2021 May 11.

Authors

Philémon Marcel-Millet¹, Alain Groslambert², Philippe Gimenez³, Sidney Grosprêtre⁴, Gilles Ravier⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Laboratory C3S (EA 4660), Department Sport and Performance, UFR STAPS, 31 Chemin de l'Epitaphe, 25000, Besançon, France. Electronic address: philemon.marcel-millet@edu.univ-fcomte.fr.
² University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Laboratory C3S (EA 4660), Department Sport and Performance, UFR STAPS, 31 Chemin de l'Epitaphe, 25000, Besançon, France. Electronic address: alain.groslambert@univ-fcomte.fr.
³ University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Laboratory C3S (EA 4660), Department Sport and Performance, UFR STAPS, 31 Chemin de l'Epitaphe, 25000, Besançon, France. Electronic address: philippe.gimenez@univ-fcomte.fr.
⁴ University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Laboratory C3S (EA 4660), Department Sport and Performance, UFR STAPS, 31 Chemin de l'Epitaphe, 25000, Besançon, France. Electronic address: sidney.grospretre@univ-fcomte.fr.
⁵ University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Laboratory C3S (EA 4660), Department Sport and Performance, UFR STAPS, 31 Chemin de l'Epitaphe, 25000, Besançon, France. Electronic address: gilles.ravier@univ-fcomte.fr.

PMID: 33984583
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103457

Abstract

This study aimed 1) to assess the psychophysiological responses throughout a rescue intervention performed during the day and at night and 2) to determine if a vibrating alarm influences these psychophysiological responses at night. Sixteen male firefighters completed a simulated intervention under three different conditions: 1) during the day with a sound alarm signal (Day_SA), 2) during the night with a sound alarm signal (Night_SA), 3) during the night with a vibrating alarm signal (Night_VA). Cardiovascular and psychological stress were recorded throughout the interventions. During the alarm signal, HR reactivity was greater in Night_SA than in Day_SA (p < 0.01). Parasympathetic reactivation and self-confidence were significantly lower in Night_SA than in Day_SA (p < 0.05). HR reactivity was decreased in Night_VA in comparison to Night_SA (p < 0.05). Overall, the rescue intervention had a greater impact on the psychophysiological variables during the night than during the day, and the type of alarm had a minor effect.

Keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Firefighting activity; Heart rate variability.

MeSH terms

Firefighters*
Heart Rate
Humans
Male
Stress, Psychological