Fire fighters must possess the ability to respond to both extrinsic stress and stress from wearing protective clothing (PC) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) (White et al., 1991, Richardson & Capra, 2001). The effects of wearing PC+SCBA (20.42 ± 1.5 kg mean ± S.D.) on heart rate (HR), temperature responses and oxygen cost in six subjects (age 20.3 ± 0.8 years, weight 77.7 ± 7.0 kg and height 180.3 ± 4.3 cm) were observed. Ethical approval was obtained from the University College Chester Ethics Committee and the Health and Safety Officer from Greater Manchester Fire Service.

There were significant increases in HR when carrying out the Chester Step Test (CST) (Sykes, 1995) wearing gym kit (GK), gym kit and weighted rucksack (WGK) (weighted to PC+SCBA equivalent) and PC+SCBA (thermoneutral conditions) (Table 1). Data was analysed using a one way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey analysis. Significant increases (P < 0.05) at CST level 5 were observed between GK and WGK for HR (Δ 23.3 ± 5.8bpm) and GK and SCBA+PC for HR (Δ 25.2 ± 5.2bpm) and for O₂ cost (Δ 6.1 ± 3.8 ml O₂ kg^-1 min^-1). Thus, cardiovascular responses are elicited both from the workload and weight of the PC+SCBA (Table 1). Skin temperature significantly increased (P < 0.05) between GK and PC+SCBA (Δ 3.1 ± 1.3°C) and also WGK and PC+SCBA (Δ 3.5 ± 1.7°C). This may suggest therefore that the PC further increases the stress already elicited by the weight of the PC+SCBA. The results suggest that being able to dissipate heat from the PC may be imperative to reduce the stress placed on fire fighter training instructors during training exercises.