Efficacy of Body Ventilation System for Reducing Strain in Warm and Hot Climates; Journal article

摘要

This study determined whether a torso-vest forced ambient air body ventilation system (BVS) reduced physiological strain during exercise-heat stress. Seven heat-acclimated volunteers attempted nine, 2-h treadmill walks at 200 W/sq m in three environments, -40 C, 20% rh (HD), 35 C, 75% rh (HW), and 30 C, 50% rh, (WW) wearing the Army Combat Uniform, interceptor body armor (IBA) and Kevlar helmet. Three trials in each environment were BVS turned on (BVS (On)), BVS turned off (BVS(Off)), and no BVS (IBA). In HD, BVS(On) significantly lowered core temperature (T(ak)), mean torso skin temperature (T(torso)), thermal sensation (TS), heat storage (S), and physiological strain index (PSI), versus BVS(off) and IBA.