Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems
Background/Aim. In military services, emergency situations when soldiers are exposed to a combination of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contamination combined with heat stress, are frequent and complex. In these specific conditions, usage of personal body cooling systems may be effe...
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Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
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| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2014/0042-84501300045J.pdf |
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| author | Jovanović Dalibor Karkalić Radovan Zeba Snježana Pavlović Miroslav Radaković Sonja S. |
| author_facet | Jovanović Dalibor Karkalić Radovan Zeba Snježana Pavlović Miroslav Radaković Sonja S. |
| author_sort | Jovanović Dalibor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Aim. In military services, emergency situations when soldiers are
exposed to a combination of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC)
contamination combined with heat stress, are frequent and complex. In these
specific conditions, usage of personal body cooling systems may be effective
in reducing heat stress. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate
the efficiency of four various types of contemporary personal body cooling
systems based on the “Phase Change Material” (PCM), and its effects on
soldiers’ subjective comfort and physiological performance during exertional
heat stress in hot environments. Methods. Ten male soldiers were voluntarily
subjected to exertional heat stress tests (EHSTs) consisted of walking on a
treadmill (5.5 km/h) in hot conditions (40ºC) in climatic chamber, wearing
NBC isolating impermeable protective suits. One of the tests was performed
without any additional cooling solution (NOCOOL), and four tests were
performed while using different types of cooling systems: three in a form of
vests and one as underwear. Physiological strain was determined by the mean
skin temperature (Tsk), tympanic temperature (Tty), and heart rate values
(HR), while sweat rates (SwR) indicated changes in hydration status. Results.
In all the cases EHST induced physiological response manifested through
increasing Tty, HR and SwR. Compared to NOCOOL tests, when using cooling
vests, Tty and Tsk were significantly lower (on 35th min, for 0.44 ± 0.03 and
0.49 ± 0.05ºC, respectively; p < 0.05), as well as the average SwR (0.17 ±
0.03 L/m2/h). When using underwear, the values of given parameters were not
significantly different compared to NOCOOL tests. Conclusions. Using a body
cooling system based on PCM in the form of vest under NBC protective clothes
during physical activity in hot conditions, reduces sweating and alleviates
heat stress manifested by increased core and skin temperatures and heart rate
values. These effects directly improve heat tolerance, hydration state,
decrease in the risk of heat illness, and extends the duration of soldiers’
exposure to extreme conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d90a9b6017374c5aa7405e00e5c35073 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0042-8450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
| spelling | doaj-art-d90a9b6017374c5aa7405e00e5c350732025-08-20T02:21:11ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502014-01-0171325926410.2298/VSP120731045J0042-84501300045JPhysiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systemsJovanović Dalibor0Karkalić Radovan1Zeba Snježana2Pavlović Miroslav3Radaković Sonja S.4Technical Testing Centre, Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, BelgradeTechnical Testing Centre, Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, BelgradeUniversity of Defence, Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, BelgradeUniversity of Defence, Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, BelgradeUniversity of Defence, Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade + Military Medical Academy, Sector of Preventive Medicine, BelgradeBackground/Aim. In military services, emergency situations when soldiers are exposed to a combination of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contamination combined with heat stress, are frequent and complex. In these specific conditions, usage of personal body cooling systems may be effective in reducing heat stress. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of four various types of contemporary personal body cooling systems based on the “Phase Change Material” (PCM), and its effects on soldiers’ subjective comfort and physiological performance during exertional heat stress in hot environments. Methods. Ten male soldiers were voluntarily subjected to exertional heat stress tests (EHSTs) consisted of walking on a treadmill (5.5 km/h) in hot conditions (40ºC) in climatic chamber, wearing NBC isolating impermeable protective suits. One of the tests was performed without any additional cooling solution (NOCOOL), and four tests were performed while using different types of cooling systems: three in a form of vests and one as underwear. Physiological strain was determined by the mean skin temperature (Tsk), tympanic temperature (Tty), and heart rate values (HR), while sweat rates (SwR) indicated changes in hydration status. Results. In all the cases EHST induced physiological response manifested through increasing Tty, HR and SwR. Compared to NOCOOL tests, when using cooling vests, Tty and Tsk were significantly lower (on 35th min, for 0.44 ± 0.03 and 0.49 ± 0.05ºC, respectively; p < 0.05), as well as the average SwR (0.17 ± 0.03 L/m2/h). When using underwear, the values of given parameters were not significantly different compared to NOCOOL tests. Conclusions. Using a body cooling system based on PCM in the form of vest under NBC protective clothes during physical activity in hot conditions, reduces sweating and alleviates heat stress manifested by increased core and skin temperatures and heart rate values. These effects directly improve heat tolerance, hydration state, decrease in the risk of heat illness, and extends the duration of soldiers’ exposure to extreme conditions.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2014/0042-84501300045J.pdfheat stress disordersprotective clothingphysical exertion, military personnel |
| spellingShingle | Jovanović Dalibor Karkalić Radovan Zeba Snježana Pavlović Miroslav Radaković Sonja S. Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems Vojnosanitetski Pregled heat stress disorders protective clothing physical exertion, military personnel |
| title | Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems |
| title_full | Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems |
| title_fullStr | Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems |
| title_short | Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems |
| title_sort | physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers effects of various types of body cooling systems |
| topic | heat stress disorders protective clothing physical exertion, military personnel |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2014/0042-84501300045J.pdf |
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