Firefighter health is of utmost importance both to first responders and the individuals they serve daily. The impact of shift schedule on firefighter health remains poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in health and performance outcomes in firefighters across two different shift schedules.
METHODS:
Firefighter (N = 1995) body composition, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance were assessed and described. A Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to compare differences between shift schedules (48/96 and 4’s and 6’s).
RESULTS:
There was a statistically significant difference in BMI (U = 70115, z=–1.988, p = .047), BF% (U = 67341, z=–2.779, p = .005), and trunk flexion score (U = 81362, z = 1.979, p = .048) favoring the 48/96 shift schedule.
CONCLUSION:
Firefighters following a 48/96 shift schedule exhibited improved body composition and fitness performance in comparison to peers who followed a 4’s and 6’s shift schedule. Findings may guide regional firefighter scheduling to optimize health and performance.
American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 10th ed. Philidelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2018.
10.
SmithD, FehlingP, FrischA, HallerJ, WinkeM, DaileyMThe prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors and obesity in firefighters. J Obesity. 2012.
11.
KalesS, SoteriadesE, ChristophiC, ChristianiDEmergency duties and deaths from heart disease among firefighters in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2007;356(12):1207–88.
12.
PostonW, HaddockC, JahnkeS, JitnarinN, TuleyB, KalesSThe prevalence of overweight, obesity, and substandard fitness in a population-based firefighter cohort. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2011;53(3):266–73.
13.
SoteriadesE, HauserR, KawachiI, LiarokapisD, ChristianiD, KalesSObesity and cardiovascular disease risk factors in firefighters: A prospective cohort study. Obesity. 2005;13(10):1756–63.
14.
JahnkeS, PostonW, HaddockC, JitnarinNObesity and incident injury among career firefighters in the central United States. Obesity. 2013;21(8):1505–8.
ChoiB, SchnallP, DobsonM, et al. Very long (>48 hours) shifts and cardiovascular strain in firefighters: A theoretical framework. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2014;26(5):1–9.
17.
ZwirnSExamining the 72 consecutive hour work limit [PDF]. 2007. Available from: http://www.bowleslangley.com/wp-content/files mf/72hourworkshift.pdf
HomM, StanleyI, RogersM, TzonevaM, BernertR, JoinerTThe association between sleep disturbances and depression among firefighters: Emotion dysregulation as an explanatory factor. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(2):235–45.
20.
LiuS, WangX, ZhengQ, GaoL, SunQSleep deprivation and central appetite regulation. Nutrients. 2022;14:5196.
StromC, PettittR, KrynskiL, JamnickN, HeinC, PettittCValidity of a customized submaximal treadmill protocol for determining VO2max. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018;118(9):1781–7.
23.
UthN, SørensenH, OvergaardK, PedersenPEstimation of VO2max from the ratio between HR max and HR rest –the heart rate ratio method. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;91(1):111–5.
SaksvikI, BjorvatnB, HetlandH, SandalG, PallesenSIndividual differences in tolerance to shift work—A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2011;15(4):221–35.
26.
Saksvik-LehouillierI, PallesenS, BjorvatnB, MagerøyN, FolkardSTowards a more comprehensive definition of shift work tolerance. Ind Health. 2015;53(1):69–77.
27.
MedicG, WilleM, HemelsMShort- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat Sci Slee. 2017;9:151–61.
