Physiological Responses of Firefighters During Simulated Stair Transport of a Bariatric Patient: A Slovak Case Study

Manual stair transport of bariatric patients imposes substantial physical demands on firefighters. This study evaluated the effects of manikin weight and transport direction on physiological responses during simulated stair transport. Twelve male professional firefighters, organised into three four-person teams, transported a bariatric (215.5 kg) and a standard-weight (85 kg) manikin up and down a staircase. Pulse rate and respiratory rate were measured before and immediately after transport, with pulse rate reassessed after one minute of recovery. Perceived exertion was assessed using the Borg scale. Data were analysed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired comparisons. Manikin type significantly affected changes in pulse rate and respiratory rate and short-term pulse rate recovery. Transport direction significantly affected pulse rate change and recovery, but not respiratory rate change. The mean increase in pulse rate was greater during upward than downward bariatric transport (48.17 ± 16.94 versus 25.83 ± 22.96 beats/min; p = 0.044). Borg scores indicated high perceived exertion in both directions, without a statistically significant difference between them. These findings support combined physiological and perceived-exertion monitoring in firefighter training and the development of safer bariatric transport procedures.