Effectiveness of ice-vest cooling in prolonging work tolerance time during heavy exercise in the heat for personnel wearing Canadian forces chemical defense ensembles
Effectiveness of a portable, ice-pack cooling vest (Steelevest) in prolonging work tolerance time in chemical defense clothing in the heat (33 C dry bulb, 33% relative humidity or 25 C WBGT) was evaluated while subjects exercised at a metabolic rate of approx. 700 watts. Subjects were six male volunteers. The protocol consisted of a 20 minute treadmill walk at 1.33 m/s. and 7.5% grade, followed by 15 minutes of a lifting task, 5 minutes rest, then another 20 minutes of lifting task for a total of one hour. The lifting task consisted of lifting of 20 kg box, carrying it 3 meters and setting it down. This was followed by a 6 m walk (3m back to the start point and 3 m back to the box) 15 sec after which the lifting cycle began again. The work was classified as heavy as previously defined. This protocol was repeated until the subjects were unable to continue or they reached a physiological endpoint. Time to voluntary cessation or physiological endpoint was called the work tolerance time. Physiological endpoints were rectal temperature of 39 C, heart rate exceeding 95% of maximum for two consecutive minutes or visible loss of motor control or nausea. The cooling vest had no effect on work tolerance time, rate of rise of rectal temperature or sweat loss. It was concluded that the Steelvest ice-vest is ineffective in prolonging work tolerance time and preventing increases in rectal temperature while wearing chemical protective clothing.
- Research Organization:
- Defence and Civil Inst. of Environmental Medicine, Downsview, ON (Canada)
- OSTI ID:
- 5459278
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-235273/0/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHEMICAL WARFARE
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
MILITARY PERSONNEL
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
COOLING SYSTEMS
BODY TEMPERATURE
CLOTHING
CONTROL
COOLING
EXERCISE
ICE
LOSSES
MALES
METABOLISM
MOTORS
NAUSEA
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RECTUM
TOLERANCE
VISIBILITY
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
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ORGANS
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560200 - Thermal Effects