Effect of Heat and Chemical Protective Clothing on Sustained Mental Performance by Female Soldiers

摘要

This study examined the effects of heat on sustained mental performance by sedentary female soldiers clad in chemical protective clothing. Seventeen women trained for 2 weeks on military tasks. Then, they performed the tasks for 7-h periods on 4 successive days Days 1 and 3=21.1 C, 35%rh, battle dress uniform (BDU); Day 2=12.8 C, 35%rh, protective clothing over BDU; Day4=32.8 C, 61%rh, protective clothing over BDU. After 3 h in the heat in protective clothing, group performance began to deteriorate. Two persons had to be evacuated in the 3rd h of exposure, 3 in the 4th and 5 in the 5th. The remaining 7 showed no adverse effects on performance of any task. No differences were found between casualties and non casualties in rectal temperature or water consumption. Performance of a majority of the group also was adversely affected by the protective clothing at 12.8 C, 35%rh. We conclude that the effects of heat and protective clothing on women are more severe than on men, but the reasons are not clear at this time. Keywords: Climatic stress; military performance; group productivity; stress physiology. (sdw)