@article{mcquerry_kwon_poley-bogan_2023, title={Female firefighters' increased risk of occupational exposure due to ill-fitting personal protective clothing}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2296-8016"]}, DOI={10.3389/fmats.2023.1175559}, abstractNote={Despite the growing female firefighter population, firefighting gear was originally designed with only the male human form in mind. As a result, women in the fire service experience issues of improper fit and injuries at rates exponentially higher than their male counterparts. Areas of ill-fit, specifically in interfaces, can increase the risk of occupational exposure for women in the fire service. The purpose of this research was to determine fit and sizing issues of personal protective clothing (PPC) to improve female firefighters’ comfort, mobility, and safety. A mixed methods approach was adopted including a nationwide questionnaire, end-user focus groups, and remote three-dimensional body scanning of 189 female structural and wildland firefighters. Between 15%–21% of female firefighters were found to intentionally leave off a part of their PPC at least “sometimes,” if not “nearly always,” with the coat and pants being the primary items not donned. 100% of participants had wrist and ankle circumferences smaller than the smallest size garment’s wrist and pant leg openings per the wildland sizing system, indicating interface areas and wildland PPC have the greatest opportunities for design and fit improvement. This study gathered and created the first and largest U.S. female firefighter anthropometric database. Overall results indicate female firefighters are wearing PPC with significant fit issues that not only reduce their comfort and restrict their mobility but pose increased safety risks related to occupational exposure.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN MATERIALS}, author={McQuerry, Meredith and Kwon, Cassandra and Poley-Bogan, Madeline}, year={2023}, month={Apr} }
 @misc{mcquerry_kwon_johnson_2019, title={A critical review of female firefighter protective clothing and equipment workplace challenges}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1560-6074"]}, DOI={10.1108/RJTA-01-2019-0002}, abstractNote={
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenging barriers faced by female firefighters, which limit workplace entrance and performance.


Design/methodology/approach
Occupational barriers from both psychological and physiological viewpoints were explored based on previous literature and the reported experiences of female firefighters.


Findings
A comprehensive review of literature synthesizes previous studies pertaining to gender anthropometric differences, female firefighters’ experiences in the work environment and protective clothing issues. The physical capabilities of men and women in specific relation to performing firefighting activities are also examined. Issues of greatest concern are identified for personal protective clothing (PPC) and equipment, which have traditionally been designed for the male human form. This leads to a lack of protection, an increased risk of onsite injury, reduction in mobility and poorer comfort for female firefighters.


Originality/value
This review provides an original overview of the critical workplace challenges faced by female firefighters. The need for female-specific PPC and equipment is specifically addressed to retain the growing number of women entering the male-dominated firefighting profession.
}, number={2}, journal={RESEARCH JOURNAL OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL}, author={McQuerry, Meredith and Kwon, Cassandra and Johnson, Heather}, year={2019}, month={Jun}, pages={94–110} }
 @article{ormond_kwon_mathews_2019, title={Performance Evaluation of Newly Developed Smoke and Particulate Resistant Structural Turnout Ensemble}, volume={1614}, ISBN={["978-0-8031-7673-7"]}, ISSN={["0066-0558"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1520/STP161420180049}, DOI={10.1520/STP161420180049}, journal={HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY: RESEARCH, APPLICATIONS, AND STANDARDS}, publisher={ASTM International}, author={Ormond, R. Bryan and Kwon, Cassandra H. and Mathews, Marc C.}, year={2019}, pages={286–305} }
 @article{kwon_hegarty_oxenham_thoney-barletta_grant_reid_2019, title={An introduction to a new direct testing method for characterizing pressure in compression fabrics}, volume={110}, ISSN={["1754-2340"]}, DOI={10.1080/00405000.2018.1527966}, abstractNote={Abstract A newly developed direct pressure measuring system known as the CRIM Pressure System was compared with a traditional direct measuring device, the PicoPress Compression System, for compression bandage and hosiery samples. PicoPress measurements were taken both on the CRIM system and on research participants. Initial results indicated a good correlation between CRIM Pressure System and PicoPress participants’ measurements.}, number={6}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE}, author={Kwon, Cassandra and Hegarty, Meghan and Oxenham, William and Thoney-Barletta, Kristin and Grant, Edward and Reid, Lawrence}, year={2019}, month={Jun}, pages={822–831} }
 @article{kwon_hegarty_oxenham_thoney-barletta_grant_reid_2018, title={An indirect testing approach for characterizing pressure profiles of compression bandages and hosiery}, volume={109}, ISSN={["1754-2340"]}, DOI={10.1080/00405000.2017.1340079}, abstractNote={Abstract As outlined in compression therapy literature, the performance of a compression textile can be characterized by its stiffness and interface pressure. In this study, an indirect approach for measuring pressure from a set of compression bandages and hosiery was developed, from which rigidity (EI) values were determined, and tension–elongation curves and pressure-elongation data were calculated. The calculated pressure values were compared against PicoPress sensor readings measured on 10 participants. Results showed that the correlation between both approaches varied among bandage and hosiery samples.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Kwon, Cassandra and Hegarty, Meghan and Oxenham, William and Thoney-Barletta, Kristin and Grant, Edward and Reid, Lawrence}, year={2018}, pages={256–267} }
 @article{hegarty-craver_grant_kravitz_kwon_reid_2015, title={Simulated pressure changes in multilayer, multicomponent wrap systems when transitioning from rest to standing}, volume={24}, ISSN={["2062-2916"]}, DOI={10.12968/jowc.2015.24.sup9.s14}, abstractNote={Objective: The objective of this paper was to investigate the pressure applied to the lower leg by multilayer, multicomponent wrap systems, in different positions Method: The stretch profiles of five multilayer, multicomponent wrap systems were tested, three 2-layer and two 4-layer systems. These were quantified in the laboratory using a tensile testing device. The circumference of the lower leg was measured on healthy participants in three locations (ankle, B1 level, and calf) in three different postures (rest, dorsiflexion, and standing). Results: The largest changes in circumference were used to simulate the pressure changes under the multilayer, multicomponent products using Laplace's Law. While the pressure differences were large for the zinc plaster product, pressure changes ranged from 5–10mmHg for the other, more elastic products. Additionally, it was noted that the leg decreased in circumference at the B1 level and calf for the majority of participants when transitioning from sitting to standing. This decrease in size results in a decrease in bandage tension and applied pressure. Conclusion: These results show that the sub-bandage pressure is not significantly affected by changes in posture when used as intended, within the therapeutic range. Declaration of interest: This study was sponsored by Carolon. L. Reid, and S. Kravitz are employees of Carolon and E. Grant is a Member of the Board. M. Hegarty-Craver and C. Kwon have received monetary compensation as researchers for Carolon. }, number={9}, journal={JOURNAL OF WOUND CARE}, author={Hegarty-Craver, M. and Grant, E. and Kravitz, S. and Kwon, C. and Reid, L.}, year={2015}, month={Sep}, pages={S14–S20} }
 @article{hegarty-craver_kwon_oxenham_grant_reid_2015, title={Towards characterizing the pressure profiles of medical compression hosiery: an investigation of current measurement devices and techniques}, volume={106}, ISSN={["1754-2340"]}, DOI={10.1080/00405000.2014.941535}, abstractNote={Medical compression hosiery is prescribed according to the pressure it applies to a limb. There are many devices available for measuring this pressure, but differences in the design of the systems used, measurement locations, protocols, and operators result in different pressures being measured for the same garment. This article explores the construction of these compression-measuring devices and the sensing involved in order to highlight the potential causes of these discrepancies. The Tension–Elongation profiles of six compression hosiery samples were then measured, and a method of verifying the point pressure measurements from current techniques was proposed and tested. The results of this analysis show that there was an average discrepancy of 1–5 mmHg between point pressure measurements and those predicted from the Tension–Elongation profiles. With respect to on-body measurements, this technique predicted a maximum change in pressure of 3 mmHg for the samples tested.}, number={7}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE}, author={Hegarty-Craver, Meghan and Kwon, Cassandra and Oxenham, William and Grant, Edward and Reid, Lawrence, Jr.}, year={2015}, month={Jul}, pages={757–767} }