The Effect of Physical Fitness on Occupational Performance in Civil Defense and Firefighting Program Students
Öz
This research investigated the association between firefighting students’ physical fitness characteristics and the duration required to complete simulated occupational tasks. A total of 53 healthy male firefighting trainees voluntarily participated in the study (mean age: 19.81 ± 1.65 years; height: 1.78 ± 0.06 cm; body weight: 77.87 ± 12.09 kg). Fitness assessments included body mass index, handgrip strength, back–leg strength, and VO₂max evaluations. Occupational performance was evaluated through four simulation-based tasks: balance beam walking, forcible entry, hose pulling, and victim rescue. The distribution of the data was assessed for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test. The relationship between variables was examined using Pearson correlation analysis.Results revealed a moderate, negative, and statistically significant correlation between VO₂max and task completion time (r = -0.397, p = 0.003). Students with higher aerobic capacity were able to complete tasks more quickly. No significant associations were observed between completion time and other fitness parameters. These findings emphasize that aerobic capacity plays a critical role in firefighting performance. Accordingly, the development of cardiorespiratory endurance should be a priority in training programs for firefighting students. Future research is needed to explore the contribution of muscle strength and other physiological factors to occupational performance in greater depth to establish reference standards.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Aerobic Capacity, Cardiorespiratory Endurance, Firefighting, Occupational performance, Physical fitness
Destekleyen Kurum
TUBİTAK
Proje Numarası
TÜBİTAK 2209-A Üniversite Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı Proje No: 1919B012333680
Etik Beyan
Bu çalışma Helsinki Bildirgesi ile uyumludur. Bu çalışma Kastamonu Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etik Kurulu tarafından onaylanmıştır (Toplantı No. 6, Karar No. 72, Tarih: 21 Mayıs 2025).
Teşekkür
Bu çalışma, TÜBİTAK 2209-A Üniversite Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı kapsamında (Proje No: 1919B012333680) desteklenmiştir. Sağladığı değerli bilimsel destek ve teşvik için Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu’na (TÜBİTAK) teşekkür ederiz.
Ayrıca, Kastamonu Üniversitesi Bozkurt Meslek Yüksekokulu Sivil Savunma ve İtfaiyecilik Programı öğrencisi Hasan MERT SARI’ ya proje fikrinin geliştirilmesi ve veri toplama sürecine sunduğu katkılardan dolayı teşekkür ederiz.
Kaynakça
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- Arslanoğlu, E. (2010). The effect of 8 weeks of exercise and training on some physiological parameters of firefighter students. (Unpublished master's thesis). Selçuk Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Konya.
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