A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF WEARING MASKS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN EVACUATION SHELTERS (PART 2): THE EFFECT OF BREATHING RESISTANCE WITH MASK ON HEART RATE AND RESPIRATORY RATE

Abstract

The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of the mask wearing in evacuation shelter - analogue setting. A subject experiment was conducted to examine the effects of mask wearing on stress using electrocardiograph and environmental conditions. The subjects completed questionnaires regarding their thermal sensation, comfortability, fatigue, and “perceived difficulty breathing”. As a results, mask wearing increased “perceived difficulty breathing” in the case of hot condition of enthalpy showed higher than 50 kJ/kgDA. In addition, it is found this facilitated an increase in the LF/HF ratio because HF power is decreased with increment of “perceived difficulty breathing”.