Could saunas be used for firefighters’ health promotion? To find out, Professor OiSaeng Hong wanted to work with the world’s best sauna researchers, so she came to Finland.
Hong is Professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing and an internationally recognised expert in occupational and environmental health. Her research has included tailored worksite-based interventions to prevent and reduce occupational health risks. “My primary focus has been to prevent auditory impairment among people who are exposed to noise and ototoxic chemicals in their work, such as construction workers, airport workers, manufacturing workers and firefighters.”
Indeed, exposure to toxic chemicals can damage the auditory system and cause tinnitus and hearing impairment, in addition to other health risks.
In a recent collaboration related to cancer prevention among firefighters, Hong noticed that many firefighters were interested in the health benefits of sauna. “In California, some fire stations have already started installing saunas, which firefighters find useful for the relief of musculoskeletal pain and work stress. Firefighters also believed that sweating in the sauna might help remove toxins from their bodies after exposure to toxic chemicals during fire suppression activities.”
“We decided to explore this topic, and I noticed that a lot of interesting research came from Finland. Specifically, Professor Jari Laukkanen and his team at the University of Eastern Finland have published a lot of data on the effects of sauna on cardiovascular health.”
From infrared to smoke sauna
Hong successfully applied for a Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair in Health Sciences grant, which enables her to visit and set up collaboration with researchers at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) over a two-year period.
She made her first visit to UEF this August and September. Hosted by Professor Tarja Kvist at the Department of Nursing Science in Kuopio, she also met with Laukkanen, whose post is located at the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland in Jyväskylä. “He was very welcoming, and we came up with some good ideas to proceed with.”
“In addition, Tarja connected me with researchers at the Emergency Services Academy Finland located in Kuopio, and the Director and potential collaborators from its Research and Development Division expressed strong interest and are willing to assist with recruiting a group of firefighters for my qualitative pilot study planned for next year.”
Hong points out that Californian fire stations mostly have infrared saunas instead of hotter and more humid traditional saunas, and the effects on the body may differ. “But of course we want to carry out the intervention in the US in the type of sauna that our firefighters actually use.”
“We will also be looking for more researchers in California to collaborate with in sauna research. One of my colleagues at the UCSF has already been looking at sauna bathing as a non-pharmacological treatment for depression among firefighters.”
During her visit to Kuopio with her spouse, Hong says they also found time to explore the local sights, foods and nature. “The forests and the lakes are so beautiful, it’s so peaceful and the people are so kind and friendly. We are also impressed by the cleanliness of public spaces, the abundance of saunas, peaceful parks and gardens, and elegant churches.”
“One of the faculty at the Department of Nursing Science, Dr Kristiina Heinonen, invited us to their countryside cottage, and we got to bathe in a traditional smoke sauna, which takes hours to heat and prepare, and to take a dip in the cold lake, which we loved. Many suggested that we must try the traditional Finnish smoke sauna at least once in our lifetime, and it really was an amazing cultural experience.”
Hong also shared that through interactions with colleagues and potential collaborators, she learned about the history, culture and modern research practices surrounding Finnish sauna bathing. Hong’s research project, “Exploring Inclusion of Sauna Bath in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Firefighters,” will continue in the next academic year when she returns to UEF for the second part of her Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair in Health Sciences grant. Hong expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Fulbright Finland Foundation, the Saastamoinen Foundation and UEF for their generosity and support.
