Firefighters brave heat for study

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Some Indiana State University researchers and students study the effects of heat on firefighters.

A team of Terre Haute firefighters went through some extreme training while ISU researchers closely monitored them.

First, the firefighters swallowed a special pill so that researchers could instantaneously measure their core body temperatures.

Then they crawled through an obstacle course, braved a smoke-filled building, and cut into cars with the jaws of life.

Each firefighter did one activity for 15 minutes, then they had their vitals checked and their air tanks changed.

They also answered questions to test the psychological effects of the tests.

The point of the study is to determine how different heat conditions effect the health of firefighters. It is continuing until August 18.