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Comparison of Thermal Manikin Modeling and Human Subjects’ Response During Use of Cooling Devices Under Personal Protective Ensembles in the Heat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2018

Tyler Quinn ,
Jung-Hyun Kim ,
Yongsuk Seo  and
Aitor Coca
Tyler Quinn
Affiliation:
National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUSA
Jung-Hyun Kim
Affiliation:
National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUSA
Yongsuk Seo
Affiliation:
National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUSA
Aitor Coca*
Affiliation:
National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUSA
*
Correspondence: Aitor Coca, PhD National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory 626 Cochrans Mill Road Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236 USA E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction

Personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended for use in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak increased risk for heat illness, and countermeasures addressing this issue would be valuable.

Hypothesis/Problem

The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological impact and heat perception of four different personal cooling devices (PCDs) under impermeable PPE during low-intensity exercise in a hot and humid environment using thermal manikin modeling and human testing.

Methods

Six healthy male subjects walked on a treadmill in a hot/humid environment (32°C/92% relative humidity [RH]) at three metabolic equivalents (METs) for 60 minutes wearing PPE recommended for use in West Africa and one of four different personal cooling devices (PCDs; PCD1, PCD2, PCD3, and PCD4) or no PCD for control (CON). The same ensembles were tested with thermal manikin modeling software in the same conditions to compare the results.

Results

All PCDs seemed to reduce physiological heat stress characteristics when worn under PPE compared to CON. Both the manikin and human testing provided similar results in core temperature (Tc) and heat sensation (HS) in both magnitude and relationship. While the manikin and human data provided similar skin temperature (Tsk) characterization, Tsk estimation by the manikin seemed to be slightly over-estimated. Weight loss, as estimated by the manikin, was under-estimated compared to the human measurement.

Conclusion

Personal cooling device use in conjunction with impermeable PPE may be advantageous in mitigating physiological and perceptual burdens of heat stress. Evaluation of PCDs worn under PPE can be done effectively via human or manikin testing; however, Tsk may be over-estimated and weight loss may be under-estimated. Thermal manikin testing of PCDs may provide fast and accurate information to persons recommending or using PCDs with PPE.

QuinnT, KimJH, SeoY, CocaA. Comparison of Thermal Manikin Modeling and Human Subjects’ Response During Use of Cooling Devices Under Personal Protective Ensembles in the Heat. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(3):279–287.

Keywords

cooling devicesEbolaemergency preparednessenvironmental exposurethermal manikin
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , June 2018 , pp. 279 - 287
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2018 

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Footnotes

Conflicts of interest/funding/disclaimer: This study was conducted with internal operating funds of the US National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA) where all authors were employed. Human subjects testing in this study was approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH; Washington, DC USA) IRB for project # NPPTL 10 HSRB 04. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the NIOSH. Mention of company names or products does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH. The authors have no relevant information or relationships to disclose.

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