The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Perspectives

Chester Step Test as a Reliable, Reproducible Method of Assessing Physical Fitness of Disaster Deployment Personnel

Authors: Michael S. Molloy, MB, MSc Disaster Med (EMDM), Colin M. Robertson, PhD, Gregory R. Ciottone, MD

Abstract

Field disaster response typically is strenuous, difficult work, both physically and mentally.1–3 Although hard evidence is lacking, it may be inferred that responders lacking appropriate physical fitness are at increased risk of injury or compromising safety operations during a deployment

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