Heat Stress and Physiological Strain of Permeable vs. Impermeable CB Protective Garment

Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Heat Tolerance

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01221012

883-2009-CLIT

Details and patient eligibility

About

Current protective clothing of any kind, especially the nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) protective garments, amplify thermal stress because of the inherent properties of the clothing material. High insulation coefficient and low water vapor permeability of the protective cloth limit the ability of sweat to readily evaporate, which consequently result with a significant elevation of body temperature and with excessive body fluid loss (because of inefficient sweating) that might result with significant dehydration.

Combat soldiers require to perform intense physical activities under hostile environmental conditions, including in contaminated areas that need the use of protective garments. The ability to fulfill a mission derives from the soldier's professionalism and from his physiological limits. It is well established that wearing protective garments affect tolerance time (TT) and performance.

To operate in contaminated areas suitable protective garments should be worn. The inherent characteristics of the current protective garments limit, however, the effective working periods with such an ensemble, which is further aggravated in hot climate. Thus, in an attempt to increase TT and enhance work effectiveness, improved protective garments, which result with a lessened heat-stress, are under different stages of development.

The relative influence of air permeability properties, garment weight and garment construction on heat stress and physiological strain will be investigated.

The results will be quantified in terms of body temperatures, heart rate, fluid balance, subjective sensation and the maximum wear time (if necessary extrapolated).

Enrollment

12 estimated patients

Sex

Male

Ages

20 to 30 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Twelve young (20-30 yr) male subjects will voluntarily participate in this study. The potential participants will be informed of the study's nature, purpose and medical risks. Their inclusion in the study requires the medical clearance by the study's physician (CRF) and after having filled out and sign an informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

heart conditions, blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg, known diabetes or any skin illness or lesions. Also be excluded are potential participants who were ill during the 2 weeks prior to the study