Personal protective equipment has the greatest effect on which body function?

• A. Perfusion
• B. Respiration
• C. Temperature Regulation
• D. Cellular Metabolism

Answer: (C)

PPE primarily affects the body's ability to regulate temperature. The insulating layers of turnout gear, gloves, boots, hood, and especially the SCBA trap heat next to the skin and greatly reduce evaporative cooling from sweating. This heat retention causes core temperature to rise more quickly during exertion, increasing the risk of heat fatigue, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke in firefighters, even during rehab periods.

Perfusion, or blood flow to tissues, isn’t directly blocked by PPE in normal rehab contexts, so it isn’t the main function impacted. Respiration can be affected by the added breathing resistance of the SCBA and the effort required to breathe with protective equipment, but this is secondary to the major issue of heat buildup. Cellular metabolism can change with activity and temperature, but PPE’s dominant effect is on heat regulation rather than on metabolic rate itself.