1Dept. Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Joongang-ro, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do, 25913, Republic of Korea
2Republic of Korea Air Force Academy, Sangdang-gu Namil-myeon 335-1, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28187, Republic of Korea, cho6451@gmail.com
3Korea Fire Institute 331 Jisamro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17088, Republic of Korea, rthan102@hanmail.net
4Dept. of Management Information System, Korea National University of Transportation, 50 Daehak-ro, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, 27469, Republic of Korea, sykim@g.ut.ac.kr
5Yangpeong Fire Station, Kyungkang-ro 2047 Yangpeong-eup, Yangpeong-gun, Kyungkido, 12547, Republic of Korea, dragon01@gg.go.kr
6Dept. Emergency Medical Technology, Korea National University of Transportation, 50 Daehak-ro, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, 27469, Republic of Korea, dmshin@ut.ac.kr
This study analyzed the upper body angle of firefighters carrying a patient on a stretcher with helmets. The purpose of the study was to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms.
Fire firefighters (N=15) with helmets performed lifting and lowering a stretcher. At this time, we compared the angles of their neck, shoulders, back, and upper body muscles. With the collected data, descriptive statistics were conducted for each part and situation.
We used an analysis method to verify the difference before and after wearing helmets. Upper body angles were calculated as follows. With a helmet, the shoulder angle at E1 while the worker was lifting down the stretcher was statistically significant (p<.05). The neck angle at E2 and E3 while the worker was lifting the stretcher was statistically significant (p<.005, p<.05). And the back angle at E2 (p<.05) and shoulder angle at E2 (p<.005) showed statistically significant values with helmet, while the worker was lifting the stretcher.
Therefore, our results suggest that developing higher helmets will reduce the stress of neck and back and musculoskeletal fatigue.
Firefighter, musculoskeletal, body angle, helmets, stress of neck and back
