PhD researcher Emily Watkins and Alan Richardson, Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, have been working with the Fire Service over the last six years to find ways of reducing core body temperatures of firefighters and, in turn, the risk of heat stroke, which can cause disorientation, fainting, organ failure and in some extreme cases death.
They conducted laboratory-based study to investigate cooling strategies and found that ingesting an ice slurry solution was the most successful way to lower body temperatures before exposure to great heat. This research forms just one small part of their work in the field of firefighter safety.
Emily said: “With the current heatwave and the physically arduous tasks faced by the firefighters, keeping hydrated and cool can be incredibly difficult, increasing their risk of heat illnesses. Resting in a shaded area to consume ice drinks can help with both of these issues. This is especially important given the long periods of time firefighters are working to tackle the blazes.”
Due to the expense of running a large amount of ice slurry machines, the Fire Service use very small ice cubes that can be eaten rather than the formula favoured by the university. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre and The Fire Training College are among the centres now implementing this method.