The project titled "Cardiac Parasympathetic Responses and Physiological Adaptation Effect of CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) Personal Protective Equipment in First Response Teams," led by Assist. Prof.Dr. Nuray Demiralp from the Civil Defense and Firefighting Program at Kastamonu University Bozkurt Vocational School, has been granted support under the TÜBİTAK 1002-B Rapid Support Program.
In the project, the physiological loads encountered by first response teams in the field during disasters and emergencies and the changes in parasympathetic response in heart rate associated with using CBRN personal protective equipment (PPE) will be scientifically investigated. The project also aims to evaluate the effects of these devices on physiological adaptation and to identify key health parameters that affect operational performance.
In the project team, Assist. Prof.Dr. Serdar Akyel from our university's Faculty of Medicine and Prof. Dr. Hürmüz Koç from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University are involved as researchers, while Prof. Dr. Levent Kenar from Health Sciences University contributes as an advisor. An undergraduate student also serves as a scholarship recipient in the project.
It is expected that the project outputs will contribute to improving occupational health and safety standards for personnel involved in CBRN incidents, restructuring training programs, and reducing physiological effects associated with the use of PPE. In this regard, the project is considered a step towards strengthening disaster management capacity on a scientific basis.
Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, congratulated the project team and thanked the researchers for their contributions to our University's scientific research potential. Additionally, our Rector expressed gratitude to the President of the Higher Education Council, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and the YÖK members for their support of scientific studies and also extended his thanks to the President of TÜBİTAK, Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, for their encouraging support.
