Brianna Larsen

Dr Brianna Larsen

Completed PhD student
About
Dr Brianna Larsen

Dr Brianna Larsen’s PhD began at the Bushfire CRC and evaluated the effect of different ambient temperatures on firefighters’ work performance and physiology. Brianna completed her PhD in 2015 at the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC by evaluating firefighters performing simulated work tasks in various ambient conditions. She found that firefighters safely performed the same amount of work during both hot (33°C) and temperate (18°C) conditions, likely due to the intermittent nature of the work, frequent task rotation and increased fluid consumption in hot conditions. However, firefighters were unable to maintain their work output in very hot conditions (45°C) and displayed significantly elevated heart rates and core body temperatures, despite doubling their fluid consumption.

Brianna is now a postdoctoral research fellow at Griffith University and research consultant at Human Performance Science.

Brianna’s thesis is available here.

Student project

This PhD began at the Bushfire CRC and was completed in October 2015. It evaluated the effect of different ambient temperatures on firefighters' work performance and physiology, by having firefighters perform simulated work tasks in various ambient conditions. It was observed that participants safely performed the same amount of work during both hot (33°C) and temperate (18°C) conditions, likely due to the intermittent nature of the work, frequent task rotation, and increased fluid consumption in hot conditions. However, participants were unable to maintain their work output in very hot conditions (45°C), and displayed significantly elevated heart rates and core body temperatures, despite doubling their fluid consumption.

Research team

Type Project Research team
Tactical Research Fund SES fit for task Caleb Lewis, cwalker, Georgia Verry, asilk, rtait, blarsen, shall, Jamie Tait, Angus Pike
Sally Ferguson Conference Poster 2016
12 Aug 2016
These various projects are looking at firefighter health and safety, particularly looking at the...
Heat and hydration: Firefighters know what to do
25 Aug 2014
Firefighters commonly perform their fire-suppression duties in hot environmental temperatures.

Resources credited

Type Released Title Download Key Topics
Presentation-Slideshow 08 May 2015 Physically Demanding Tasks Performed by Firefighters Presentation PDF icon Save (369.49 KB) fire, response

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