Effectiveness of a Light-Weight Ice-Vest for Body Cooling While Wearing Fire Fighter's Protective Clothing in the Heat

• Published in: International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics 2004-01, Vol.10 (2), p.111-117
• Main Authors: Smolander, Juhani, Kuklane, Kalev, Gavhed, Désirée, Nilsson, Håkan, Holmér, Ingvar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; body cooling; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Engineering and Technology; Exercise Test; fire fighting; Fires; Heart Rate - physiology; Heat Exhaustion - prevention & control; Heat Stress Disorders - prevention & control; Hemodynamics - physiology; Humans; Ice; ice-vest; Male; Manikins; Maskinteknik; Mechanical Engineering; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Probability; Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics; Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi; Protective Clothing; Risk Assessment; Sampling Studies; smoke-diving; Sweating - physiology; Sweden; Teknik; thermal strain; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1080-3548; 2376-9130; 2376-9130
• DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2004.11076599

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of wearing an ice-vest (ca 1 kg) on physiological and subjective responses in fire fighters. The experiments were carried out on a treadmill in a hot-dry environment. The physical cooling effect of the ice-vest was measured with a thermal manikin. The ice-vest effectively reduced skin temperatures under the vest. On average, heart rate was 10 beats/min lower, the amount of sweating was reduced by 13%, and subjective sensations of effort and warmth were lower during work with the ice-vest compared to work without it. Thermal manikin tests indicated that the useful energy available from the vest for body cooling was rather high (58%). In conclusion, the ice-vest reduces physiological and subjective strain responses during heavy work in the heat, and may promote efficient work time by 10%.