Headline Keeping cool in a crisis
Wearing an ice vest could help bomb disposal teams working in hot and humid conditions and wearing heavy protective equipment. The dangerous nature of their work means teams dealing with explosives need to be well protected. But the thick material of their safety suits can make them very hot and uncomfortable to wear, putting people at risk of heat-related illnesses and limiting the time they can wear them during missions.
Researchers examined whether an ice vest worn underneath an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) suit could help keep the user cool. Their study measured the heart rate and temperature of participants with and without the vest as they completed a series of tasks in the EOD suit. They found that the ice pack helped to lower skin temperature and reduce cardiovascular strain.
The researchers said: “The results highlight the benefit of an inexpensive cooling device in assisting EOD technicians working in a hot environment. Extrapolation of the current work to different environmental conditions, operational tasks and representative cohorts in future investigations would be beneficial.”