1、Understanding and managing Understanding and managing the impact of smoke the impact of smoke on the eyes of Australian bush on the eyes of Australian bush firefighters firefighters Natural Hazards Research Australia 2023Suki JaiswalSenior Research AssociateUniversity of New South WalesNatural Hazar
2、ds Research AustraliaImpact of smoke on eyes of bush firefightersSmoke irritates the eye surface Protective eyewear can be challenging to use on the fireground Lack of consistent methods to aid recovery of eye surface after occupational smoke exposure Structures of the eye surface1)Squire,B.,Chidest
3、er,C.,&Raby,S.(2011).Medical Events During the 2009 Los Angeles County Station Fire:Lessons for Wildfire EMS Planning.Prehospital Emergency Care,15(4),464472.https:/doi.org/10.3109/10903127.2011.598607Impact of smoke exposure on eyes at burns Dryness,discomfort,foreign body sensation Eye Redness Cor
4、neal epithelial cell damage Tear film quality Research questions1)What eye symptoms and/or vision related problems occur in bush firefighters?2)What are the existing capabilities and resources within fire and emergency service agencies to improve eye care and protection for bush firefighters?3)Which
5、 therapeutic and non-therapeutic strategies can be operationally implementable to reduce eye symptoms and mitigate smoke induced eye surface damage?Project overviewIntervention trials:Effectivity of non-goggles based methods in mitigating impact of smoke on eyes e.g.rinsing,wipes,eye drops,contact l
6、ensesExperience of Australian bush firefighters Document analysis Observations InterviewsStage 1:April Oct 2025Stage 2:Nov 2025 Jul 2026Stage 1:Qualitative study Document analysisReview PPE and OH&S guidelines from each agencyoProtective eyewear optionsoSungla