COOL VESTS Go HIGH TECH
Plant Safety & Maintenance
Published July 2001
Imagine a personal cooling garment that maintains a comfortable 59° F
(15° C), weighs less than 5 lb., and last as long as
a 13 lb. frozen ice vest, that is what you get with Glacier Tek’s
phase change technology cooling vest. Research by both
NASA and the private sector has led to a technological breakthrough with
the advent of a phase change material that
actually freeze at a set temperature well above ice or gel. This new
material allows a heat transfer to occur from the
human body at a temperature that is cool, but not cold, a comfortable
59° F (15°C).
The constant temperature cool vest utilizes a
59° F (15° C) cooling formulation encapsulated in an anatomically
designed cool pack. The cool pack makes a change in
minutes from a clear liquid to a semi-solid, white waxy form and maintains = 59° F
(15°C) throughout its cooling cycle. Unlike the
extremely cold temperatures of ice and gel, the higher temperature 59° F
(15°C) formulation works in harmony with the body. When wearing an
energized cool vest, this cool phase change material heat
sinks the excessive heat the body creates
when exercising, wearing protective clothing, encapsulating suites or
just working in HOT environments.
How does it feel?
When you first put an energized vest or jacket on, it feels cool, not
cold. Since skin temperature is approximately 92° F (33°C),
each individual will react differently to its cooling sensation. Some
individuals may feel a slight cooling throughout the
duration of the cooling life cycle, while others may not. After approximately
30 to 45 minutes, some individuals may feel
very little of the “cooling sensation”, because the body
is reacting very well to this higher temperature and acclimating.
Unlike the painful cold shock one feels when ice or gel is placed against
the skin, the comfortable 59° F (15°C) temperature of
the CoolPack feels more like jumping into a swimming pool…. for
the first few minutes it feels cool, and then, as time
passes, you hardly notice the sensation. Hence, the body has acclimated
to the cooler temperature.
Physiologically how does it work?
When the body needs to regulate its temperature, the brain triggers vasodilatation
of the blood vessels to increase the
blood flow to the peripheral skin areas of the body to stimulate sweating.
An increase in heart rate occurs, and the body
begins its natural process of temperature regulation. As the cooling
formulation inside the cool pack absorbs your body’s
excessive heat, it is cooling the soft tissues and blood as it circulates
throughout the cardiovascular system. As the blood
and soft tissue become cooler, less metabolic activity is required to
meet the demand to regulate your body’s internal
temperature. By cooling the blood flow without vasoconstriction,
hypoxia is avoided and proper oxygen flow is
maintained. Your body remains calmer, metabolic activity may slow, and
less body fluids are forfeited maintaining
suitable electrolyte balance needed for proper muscle function and optimum
physical performance. Akin to a radiator in an
automobile and automobile engine, the formulation in the cool pack absorbs
and wicks away the bodies heat. As the
body’s engine becomes cooler, less heat needs to be expelled. As
its internal temperature is regulated and maintained,
the body experiences less stress, so the brain doesn’t trigger
the need for additional hyperactivity required to regulate the
body’s temperature.
Many industry experts agree that a large percentage of job site accidents
involving the lack of alertness and poor decision
processes could have been contributed to heat stress When wearing a Phase
Change Technology cool vest for heat
stress relief, the individuals will feel more energetic and vigilant
after several hours. Studies by both government and the
private sector have shown Increases in test subject production / performance
capabilities increase by 22% - 37% and
showed little or no increase in body core temperature.
You can receive more information on ways to reduce the risk of heat stress
or stroke with Phase Change Cooling
Technology by contacting the manufacture at 800-482-0533 or on line at
glaciertek.com.
Printable PDF Version
|
For
more information...
Glacier Tek, Inc.
1-800-482-0533
P.O. Box 120642
West Melbourne, FL 32912-0642
Customer Service Fax (321) 676-5950
|
|
|
