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Effectiveness of a light-weight ice-vest for body cooling while wearing fire fighter’s protective clothing in the heat

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Author

  • Juhani Smolander
  • Kalev Kuklane
  • Désirée Gavhed
  • Håkan Nilsson
  • Ingvar Holmér

Summary, in English

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-1 lower, amount of sweating was reduced by 13%, and subjective sensation 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%.

Publishing year

2004

Language

English

Pages

111-117

Publication/Series

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

Volume

10

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Topic

  • Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Keywords

  • fire fighting
  • smoke-diving
  • thermal strain
  • body cooling
  • ice-vest

Status

Published

Research group

  • Thermal Environment Laboratory

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2376-9130