Effectiveness of a light-weight ice-vest for body cooling in fire figther´s work
(2000) Ergonomics of Protective Clothing: NOKOBETEF 6 and 1st European Conference on Protective Clothing p.289-292- Abstract
- The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of wearing a light-weight ice-vest (1 kg, water) on physiological and subjective responses in fire fighter’s work. The experiments were carried out in a climatic chamber, in a container under extreme radiant heat, and during simulated smoke-diving. In addition, the physical cooling effect of the ice-vest was measured with a thermal mannequin. Four experienced fire fighters participated in the experiments. In all tests, the subjects wore the standard clothing for fire fighters with the self-contained breathing apparatus. The total extra weight carried was 21-23 kg. The ice-vest was worn over the underwear. The laboratory tests consisted of 30 minutes of treadmill walking at a moderate... (More)
- The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of wearing a light-weight ice-vest (1 kg, water) on physiological and subjective responses in fire fighter’s work. The experiments were carried out in a climatic chamber, in a container under extreme radiant heat, and during simulated smoke-diving. In addition, the physical cooling effect of the ice-vest was measured with a thermal mannequin. Four experienced fire fighters participated in the experiments. In all tests, the subjects wore the standard clothing for fire fighters with the self-contained breathing apparatus. The total extra weight carried was 21-23 kg. The ice-vest was worn over the underwear. The laboratory tests consisted of 30 minutes of treadmill walking at a moderate (4 km/h, no inclination), and a heavy (4 km/h, inclination of 4 degrees) work intensity in the heat (45 °C, 30 %) with and without the ice-vest. The results showed that the ice-vest effectively reduced skin temperatures under the vest, especially on the back under the breathing apparatus. Wearing the ice-vest did not affect the metabolic rate, skin temperatures outside the vest or the rise in rectal temperature. On average, heart rate was ca. 10 beats/min 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. The results from tests in the container and in the smoke-diving house largely supported the laboratory results. According to the thermal mannequin tests, the useful energy available from the vest for body cooling was rather high (58 %). In conclusion, the light-weight ice-vest clearly reduces circulatory, thermal, and subjective strain during demanding smoke-diving tasks. It was estimated that the added benefit is 10-15 %. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/634812
- author
- Smolander, Juhani ; Kuklane, Kalev LU ; Gavhed, Désirée ; Nilsson, Håkan ; Karlsson, Eva and Holmér, Ingvar LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2000
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- Arbete och hälsa
- editor
- Kuklane, Kalev and Holmér, Ingvar
- issue
- 2000:8
- pages
- 4 pages
- publisher
- National Institute for Working Life
- conference name
- Ergonomics of Protective Clothing: NOKOBETEF 6 and 1st European Conference on Protective Clothing
- conference location
- Norra Latin, Stockholm, Sweden
- conference dates
- 2000-05-07 - 2000-05-10
- ISSN
- 0346-7821
- ISBN
- 91-7045-559-7
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 27616e71-cc9e-4e63-bd70-276635862c2a (old id 634812)
- alternative location
- http://hdl.handle.net/2077/4246
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 16:41:34
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 20:43:28
@inproceedings{27616e71-cc9e-4e63-bd70-276635862c2a, abstract = {{The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of wearing a light-weight ice-vest (1 kg, water) on physiological and subjective responses in fire fighter’s work. The experiments were carried out in a climatic chamber, in a container under extreme radiant heat, and during simulated smoke-diving. In addition, the physical cooling effect of the ice-vest was measured with a thermal mannequin. Four experienced fire fighters participated in the experiments. In all tests, the subjects wore the standard clothing for fire fighters with the self-contained breathing apparatus. The total extra weight carried was 21-23 kg. The ice-vest was worn over the underwear. The laboratory tests consisted of 30 minutes of treadmill walking at a moderate (4 km/h, no inclination), and a heavy (4 km/h, inclination of 4 degrees) work intensity in the heat (45 °C, 30 %) with and without the ice-vest. The results showed that the ice-vest effectively reduced skin temperatures under the vest, especially on the back under the breathing apparatus. Wearing the ice-vest did not affect the metabolic rate, skin temperatures outside the vest or the rise in rectal temperature. On average, heart rate was ca. 10 beats/min 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. The results from tests in the container and in the smoke-diving house largely supported the laboratory results. According to the thermal mannequin tests, the useful energy available from the vest for body cooling was rather high (58 %). In conclusion, the light-weight ice-vest clearly reduces circulatory, thermal, and subjective strain during demanding smoke-diving tasks. It was estimated that the added benefit is 10-15 %.}}, author = {{Smolander, Juhani and Kuklane, Kalev and Gavhed, Désirée and Nilsson, Håkan and Karlsson, Eva and Holmér, Ingvar}}, booktitle = {{Arbete och hälsa}}, editor = {{Kuklane, Kalev and Holmér, Ingvar}}, isbn = {{91-7045-559-7}}, issn = {{0346-7821}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{2000:8}}, pages = {{289--292}}, publisher = {{National Institute for Working Life}}, title = {{Effectiveness of a light-weight ice-vest for body cooling in fire figther´s work}}, url = {{http://hdl.handle.net/2077/4246}}, year = {{2000}}, }