Effect of moisture in fire hoods and gloves on residual heat accumulation during repeated rest-work cycles at a fire scene.

Abstract

Firefighters are exposed to the risk of burns at fire scenes. In 2020, the National Fire Agency of the Republic of Korea surveyed 50,527 firefighters and identified 242 burn-related incidents. The body parts affected by these burns were the hands (28.51%), ears (10.74%), and neck (10.33%), with hands and facial areas accounting for ∼50% of all burns. This trend implies that gloves and hoods do not provide sufficient protection against burns. Firefighters alternate between activity and rest during firefighting operations to enhance mission efficiency. However, the accumulated heat in their hood and gloves from these repeated cycles has not been considered thus far. This study investigated thermal accumulation patterns based on the moisture content of hoods and gloves, reflecting repeated cycles of work and rest for firefighters. Consequently, heat accumulation occurred in a dry state in both the hood and gloves, and the degree of heat storage was higher in the hood. The glove stored heat even when wet because of its multilayer structural characteristics. These results suggest that repeated activities (work-rest) with gloves and hoods under dry/wet conditions can generate residual heat and heat accumulation, causing burns on the hand and face. This study clearly demonstrated the impact of the moisture conditions of gloves and hoods in repetitive situations where they are exposed to relatively low levels of heat radiation and are then subject to rest periods. The results of this study are expected to be valuable in designing new protective gear to prevent burn injuries and developing efficient firefighting tactics.