Effectiveness of a light-weight ice-vest for body cooling in fire fighter's work
(1999) In Research and development report- Abstract
- The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of wearing a light-weight ice-vest (1kg, 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 (1kg, 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 (4km/h, no inclination), and a heavy (4 km/h, inclination of 4 degrees) work intensity in the heat (45oC, 30%) without and with 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)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Syftet med denna undersökning var att bestämma en 1 kg isvästs kylverkan på kroppen vid brandmansarbete. Testerna genomfördes i en klimatkammare, i en container med extrem strålningsvärme och i ett rökdykningshus med värme och tungt arbete. Den faktiska kylverkan mättes också med en termisk docka. Fyra erfarna brandmän deltog i försöken. I alla tester bar försökspersonerna standardklädsel för brandmän med en luftapparat. Utrustningens totala vikt var 21-23 kg. Isvästen bars ovanpå underkläder. Laboratorietesten innefattade 30 minuters gång på rullmatta på en måttlig belastning (4 km/h, 0o lutning) och på en hög belastning (4 km/h, 4o lutning) i värme (45 oC, 30 %) utan och med isvästen. Resultaten visade att isvästen effektivt sänkte... (More)
- Syftet med denna undersökning var att bestämma en 1 kg isvästs kylverkan på kroppen vid brandmansarbete. Testerna genomfördes i en klimatkammare, i en container med extrem strålningsvärme och i ett rökdykningshus med värme och tungt arbete. Den faktiska kylverkan mättes också med en termisk docka. Fyra erfarna brandmän deltog i försöken. I alla tester bar försökspersonerna standardklädsel för brandmän med en luftapparat. Utrustningens totala vikt var 21-23 kg. Isvästen bars ovanpå underkläder. Laboratorietesten innefattade 30 minuters gång på rullmatta på en måttlig belastning (4 km/h, 0o lutning) och på en hög belastning (4 km/h, 4o lutning) i värme (45 oC, 30 %) utan och med isvästen. Resultaten visade att isvästen effektivt sänkte hudtemperaturerna under västen, speciellt under luftapparaten på ryggen, men inte hudtemperaturerna utanför västen eller rektaltemperaturen. Isvästen ökade inte energiförbrukningen. Hjärtfrekvensen var 10 slag/min lägre, svettningen var 13% mindre och subjektiva skattningar av ansträngning och temperatur var lägre när arbetet gjordes med isvästen. Testresultaten i container och i rökdykningshus stödjer i hög grad laboratorieresultaten. Mätningarna med den termiska dockan visade att den effektiva kylverkan med isvästen var hög (58%). Sammanfattningsvis kan sägas att en 1 kg isväst klart minskar den cirkulatoriska, termiska och subjektiva ansträngningen under krävande arbetsmoment i rökdykning. Den extra nyttan uppskattas till 10-15%. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/636743
- author
- Smolander, Juhani ; Kuklane, Kalev LU ; Gavhed, Désirée ; Nilsson, Håkan ; Karlsson, Eva and Holmér, Ingvar LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 1999
- type
- Book/Report
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- heat stress, ice-vest, cooling, thermal strain, fire fighting, smoke-diving
- in
- Research and development report
- pages
- 29 pages
- publisher
- Swedish Rescue Services Agency, Karlstad, Sweden
- report number
- P21-309/99
- ISBN
- 91-7253-036-7
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- dc2e25a4-a892-4d7c-9224-a3fae722b9e6 (old id 636743)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 12:05:52
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 21:08:59
@techreport{dc2e25a4-a892-4d7c-9224-a3fae722b9e6,
abstract = {{The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of wearing a light-weight ice-vest (1kg, 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 (4km/h, no inclination), and a heavy (4 km/h, inclination of 4 degrees) work intensity in the heat (45oC, 30%) without and with 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}},
institution = {{Swedish Rescue Services Agency, Karlstad, Sweden}},
isbn = {{91-7253-036-7}},
keywords = {{heat stress; ice-vest; cooling; thermal strain; fire fighting; smoke-diving}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{P21-309/99}},
series = {{Research and development report}},
title = {{Effectiveness of a light-weight ice-vest for body cooling in fire fighter's work}},
year = {{1999}},
}