EFFECT OF A PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL PERSONAL BODY COOLING SYSTEM ON PHYSIOLOGICAL COMFORT DURING HEAT STRESS WEARING CBRN PROTECTIVE SUIT

radovan karkaliĆ

Technical Test Centre, Belgrade, Serbia, e-mail: rkarkalic@yahoo.com

DALIBOR JOVANOVIĆ

CBRN Training Centre, Krusevac, Serbia, e-mail: jovcadach@hotmail.com

Martina zdravkoviĆ

Faculty of Occupational Safety, Nis, Serbia, e-mail: martinaeco@yahoo.com

ŽELJKO SENIĆ

Military Technical Institute, Belgrade, Serbia, e-mail: zsenic1@gmail.com

Abstract:  The present study was conducted in order to evaluate efficiency of a personal body cooling system based on phase change material (PCM) and its effects on CBRN service solders psycho-physiological suitability during exertional heat stress in hot environment. Performed results are based on conducted tests in climatic chamber in the Military Medical Academy Institute of Hygiene in Belgrade. Ten male solders-volunteers were subjected to tests on 40 °C temperature and simultaneously to physical effort caused by walking on treadmill at a speed of 5 km/h. Tests were performed with solders of middle ages and similar anthropometric parameters, in cases of wearing CBRN isolating protective suit without any cooling system and using cooling vest based on PCM in a form of gel. As a physiological strain indicator has been determined: mean skin temperature (Tsk), tympanic temperature (Tty), heart rate (HR) and sweat rate (SwR). Results confirmed that cooling vest under protective suit was able to attenuate the physiological strain levels during exercise, when compared to identical exposures without the cooling system