title: Evaluation of two cooling systems under a firefighter coverall.
abstract: Firemen often suffer from heat strain. This study investigated two chest cooling systems for use under a firefighting suit. In nine male subjects, a vest with water soaked cooling pads and a vest with water perfused tubes were compared to a control condition. Subjects performed 30 min walking and 10 min recovery in hot conditions, while physiological and perceptual parameters were measured. No differences were observed in heart rate and rectal temperature, but scapular skin temperature and fluid loss were lower using the perfused vest. Thermal sensation was cooler for the perfused vest than for the other conditions, while the cool pad vest felt initially cooler than control. However, comfort and RPE scores were similar. We conclude that the cooling effect of both tested systems, mainly providing a (temporally) cooler thermal sensation, was limited and did not meet the expectations.
authors.affiliation: TNO, PO Box 23, 3769 ZG Soesterberg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lennart P J
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Teunissen
authors.affiliation: Taiwan Textile Research Institute, No. 6, Chengtian Rd., Tucheng Dist., New Taipei City 23674, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Li-Chu
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Taiwan Textile Research Institute, No. 6, Chengtian Rd., Tucheng Dist., New Taipei City 23674, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shih-Nung
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Taiwan Textile Research Institute, No. 6, Chengtian Rd., Tucheng Dist., New Taipei City 23674, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chin-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Taiwan Textile Research Institute, No. 6, Chengtian Rd., Tucheng Dist., New Taipei City 23674, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Gwo-Tsuen
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.affiliation: TNO, PO Box 23, 3769 ZG Soesterberg, The Netherlands; MOVE Research Institute, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: hein.daanen@tno.nl.
authors.forename: Hein A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Daanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D061388:Firefighters; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Cooling; Fire fighting garments; Heat stress