ITHACA — Researchers at Ithaca schools are working together to try and lighten the load firefighters carry—literally.

The study from Ithaca College and Cornell University focuses on the gear firefighters wear when going into dangerous situations, including uniforms, gloves, and air tanks, and how it can limit their body movement. Researchers say in emergency situations, a free range of motion and ability to move quickly can mean the difference between life and death.

IC professor Rumit Singh Kakar says one part of that study is looking at how firefighters’ boot heights can affect their performance.

“It’s not like one size fits all,” he said. “You and I could have different heights or different leg lengths, so we need shoes to match. If you don’t have the right shoe size, it could predispose you to losing balance and restricted movement, or even put you at risk for falls.”

Kakar says preserving a firefighter’s range of motion could mean the difference between life and death.

“There’s a lot of hazardous conditions with narrow spaces, fallen-over beams, collapsed-in ceilings, and in all of those situations, they have to wear helmets, gloves, fire boots, their air tanks,” he said. “When firefighters are trying to help people, if they’re losing balance or at risk of falling, it’s not going to help them do their job.”

Another line of research focuses on the harness firefighters wear to carry their gear, which can weigh up to 30 pounds, and how it can be improved.