• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.370-379
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• 2011

The increasing complexity of complex buildings, such as high-rise buildings and underground subway stations, presents new challenges to firefighters. In a fire in complex buildings, the importance of the collaboration between firefighters is clear. The increased demand on firefighter training for such environment is now evident. Due to cost, time, and safety issues, it is impossible to experience a real fire in such environments for training. In addition, the use of real fire for training does not enable repeatable training and the evaluation of the training is difficult. We developed a team-based firefighter training simulator for complex buildings using the virtual reality technology. It provides the training and evaluation of firefighting and mission-based team training. To model real fire phenomena in virtual space, a numerical analysis method based on fire dynamics is used. To achieve an immersive virtual environment, an augmented reality technique for the compensation of real world image and a haptic technique for heat experience are adopted. The developed training simulator can help the firefighter to respond to large and complex firefighting scenarios, while maintaining the safety of the trainees.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.167-172
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• 2009

The aim of study intends to investigate safety and health of injured firefighter in Gyeongbuk province and to provide the base data for the safety and health of firefighter. The results of the study are as follows. Type of activities when injured are surveyed extinguishing fire (42.5%), EMS (20.0%), rescue (12.5%), driving (10.0%) others (10.0%), education and training (5.0%). The firefighter injuries are treated in hospital (75%), operated surgery (62.5%) and disordered physically (25.0%). It was found that administration financial support (42.5%), development and propagation of teaching material (12.5%), the interest of chief (7.5%) were required for the safety and health of firefighter.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1046-1055
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• 2023

We introduce a display for virtual-reality (VR) fire training. Firefighters prefer to wear and operate a real breathing apparatus while experiencing full visual immersion in a VR fire space. Thus, we used a thin head-mounted display (HMD) with a light field and folded optical system, aiming to both minimize the volume for integration in front of the face into a breathing apparatus and maintain adequate visibility, including a wide viewing angle and resolution similar to that of commercial displays. We developed the optical system testing modules and prototypes of the integrated breathing apparatus. Through iterative testing, the thickness of the output optical module in front of the eyes was reduced from 50 mm to 60 mm to less than 20 mm while maintaining a viewing angle of 103°. In addition, the resolution and image quality degradation of the light field in the display was mitigated. Hence, we obtained a display with a structure consistent with the needs of firefighters in the field. In future work, we will conduct user evaluation regarding fire scene reproducibility by combining immersive VR fire training and real firefighting equipment.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.111-126
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12-week training on changes in physical fitness and cardiovascular factors for firefighters. For this purpose, 40 men in their 20s and 30s who agreed to participate voluntarily were recruited. They were divided into four groups: the firefighters' physical fitness test training group (hereinafter referred to as PT group), firefighters' physical fitness test and aerobic training group (hereinafter referred to as PT+AR group), firefighters' physical fitness test and both aerobic and anaerobic training group (hereinafter referred to as PT+CO group). Physical fitness factors (grip strength, back muscle strength, seated forward bend, standing long jump, sit-ups, 20-meter shuttle run), cardiovascular factors (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure) and the relationship between Framingham Heart Risk Score and physical/cardiovascular factors were compared and analyzed, and the following conclusions were obtained. Aerobic training, anaerobic training, and combined training, including 12 weeks of firefighter physical examinations, all had positive effects on fitness and cardiovascular factors, which would be an appropriate way for firefighter examinees to improve physical strength and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.555-564
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• 2020

Objectives: To identify and investigate through qualitative and quantitative analysis the hazardous substances generated when compressed wood was burned at a live fire-training center. Methods: Four types of compressed wood that are actually used in live fire training were burned in a chamber according to KS F2271. The gaseous material was sampled with a gas detector tube and conventional personal samplers. Results: 1,3-butadiene, benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, carbon monoxide, and nitric acid were detected. In particular, 1,3-butadiene (497.04-680.44 ppm), benzene (97.79-125.02 ppm), formaldehyde (1.72-13.03 ppm), hydrogen chloride (4.71-15.66 ppm), hydrogen cyanide (3.64-8.57 ppm), and sulfuric acid (3.85-5.01 ppm) exceeded the Korean Occupational Exposure Limit as measured by sampling pump according to the type of compressed wood. Conclusions: We found through the chamber testing that firefighters could be exposed to toxic substances during live fire training. Therefore, firefighter protection is needed and more research is required in the field.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ergonomic risk factors of 119 emergency medical technicians (EMT) with musculoskeletal disorders, performing emergency medical services (EMS) procedures in a firefighter combat challenge. Methods: The evaluated EMT procedures were cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) & intubation, trauma patient assessment, and intravenous (IV) injection. Measurement of working posture was done during training. Results: In CPR & intubation, OWAS-score was 2 (mean 1.9, maximum 4), requiring correction action, while REBA-score was 11 (mean 7.28, maximum 11), requiring immediate improvement. In trauma patient assessment & IV injection, OWAS-score was 4 (mean 2.9, maximum 4), requiring immediate correction action, while the REBA score was 7 (mean 7.5, maximum 11), requiring improvement. Conclusion: Both OWAS score and REBA-score showed improvement of posture and high-risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Occupational health management in EMS procedures during combat challenge and effective injury prevention program in fire stations are warranted.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2022

Background: Firefighters may experience high environmental temperatures or carry out intensive physical tasks, or both, which leads to increased core body temperature and risk of fatalities. Hence there is a need to remotely and non-invasively monitor core body temperature. Methods: Estimated (heart rate algorithm) and actual core body temperature (ingested telemetric pill) measures were collected simultaneously for comparison during training exercises on 44 firefighter volunteers. Results: Prediction of core body temperature varied, with no specific identifiable pattern between the algorithm values and directly measured body core temperatures. Group agreement of Lin's Concordance of 0.74 (95% Upper 0.75, lower CI 0.73), was deemed poor. Conclusion: From individual agreement data Lin's Concordance was variable (Min 0.11, CI 0.13-0.01; Max 0.83, CI 0.86-0.80), indicating that the heart rate algorithm approach was not suitable for core body temperature monitoring in this population group, especially at the higher more critical core body temperatures seen.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.298-305
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• 2016

The current study assessed the problems of police training center and explored the expansion plan of the center in order to improve the welfare condition of police in South Korea. The results indicated that: 1) deterioration of the facilities; 2) shortage of the facilities compared with the others such as the facilities of military and firefighter; 3) shortage of operation budget. It was suggested to cope with these problems that: 1) employing a government outsourcing of the facilities; 2) disambiguation of the definition of police training center; 3) security of budget for the effective operation of the facilities. The policy implications to enhance the police welfare in South Korea and the limitations were discussed at the last part of the research.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.529-536
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• 2017

In this study, the perceptions were surveyed fire risk and flash flames concerning the firefighters. The results were statistically evaluated according to age, experience and rank. More than 70% of the respondents answered that there is a possibility of unexpected flame exposure in the field of fire, but there was no recognition difference according to age, experience and rank. However, if there is an emergency situation in the field of fire, the survey on the ability to cope with crises showed that there is a difference in perception depending on the age, career, and rank of respondents. From these results, it is expected that strengthening simulation training of unexpected situation will be more urgently required in the future, and measures should be taken to minimize human accidents through improvement of standard operation procedures or supplement of fire suppression education according to unexpected situation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.615-616
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• 2018

Recently, new interfaces such as virtual reality and augmented reality are being developed by the development of IT technology. In particular, virtual / augmented reality technology is being applied to training equipment for members in special environments such as defense and fire fighting. In this paper, we implemented a display image processing board for HMD which is applicable to firefighter's helmet. We developed a technology to visually provide various information to firefighters in case of fire fighting.