Affiliations: Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Gemma S. Milligan, Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Spinnaker Building, Cambridge Road, Portsmouth, Hants PO1 2ER, UK. Tel.: +44 02392 845358; Fax: +44 02392 843620; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND: To establish a Physical Employment Standard for tasks with high physical demands, it is important to determine the physiological requirements. One such task for the UK Coastguard is mud rescue. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the physiological demand of pulling a rescue sled across estuary mud, and determine whether rescuer experience has an impact on the physiological demand of this task. METHODS: Forty participants walked 150 m in 3 minutes across estuary mud. Following 3 minute rest, they walked 150 m pulling a rescue sled (61 kg) in pairs (based on experience). RESULTS: Experienced rescuers had a total oxygen consumption approximately 24% lower than those inexperienced in the task. Relative oxygen consumption (V̇O2) was significantly (p < 0.05) greater in the non-experienced (mean [SD]; 42.90 [6.55] mL.kg–1.min–1) compared to the experienced group (32.85 [5.79] mL.kg–1.min–1) when controlled for pace. Required V̇O2 for various speeds were predicted based on non-experienced participants and assessed for agreement. LoA (95%) mean±difference was 0.0003 ± 3.48 mL.kg–1.min–1, with a CV of 2.30%. CONCLUSIONS: For tasks that require a high relative V̇O2, such as mud rescue, the minimum level of fitness at entry should be based upon the metabolic demands measured on those who are inexperienced.
Keywords: Physical employment standards, occupational tasks, physiological demands of
rescue
