Heat Stress and Physiological Strain of Permeable vs. Impermeable CB Protective Garment

Current protective clothing of any kind, especially the nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) protective garments, amplify thermal stress because of the inherent properties of the clothing material. High insulation coefficient and low water vapor permeability of the protective cloth limit the ability of sweat to readily evaporate, which consequently result with a significant elevation of body temperature and with excessive body fluid loss (because of inefficient sweating) that might result with significant dehydration.

Combat soldiers require to perform intense physical activities under hostile environmental conditions, including in contaminated areas that need the use of protective garments. The ability to fulfill a mission derives from the soldier's professionalism and from his physiological limits. It is well established that wearing protective garments affect tolerance time (TT) and performance.

To operate in contaminated areas suitable protective garments should be worn. The inherent characteristics of the current protective garments limit, however, the effective working periods with such an ensemble, which is further aggravated in hot climate. Thus, in an attempt to increase TT and enhance work effectiveness, improved protective garments, which result with a lessened heat-stress, are under different stages of development.

The relative influence of air permeability properties, garment weight and garment construction on heat stress and physiological strain will be investigated.

The results will be quantified in terms of body temperatures, heart rate, fluid balance, subjective sensation and the maximum wear time (if necessary extrapolated).

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Heat Tolerance

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 12

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Amit Druyan, M.D; Phone Number: 972-03-7377180; Email: Amit.Druyan@sheba.health.gov.il

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Ramat Gan, Israel
    • Recruiting
    • Sheba Medical Center
    • Contact: Amit Druyan, M.D; Email: Amit.Druyan@sheba.health.gov.il

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Twelve young (20-30 yr) male subjects will voluntarily participate in this study

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Twelve young (20-30 yr) male subjects will voluntarily participate in this study. The potential participants will be informed of the study's nature, purpose and medical risks. Their inclusion in the study requires the medical clearance by the study's physician (CRF) and after having filled out and sign an informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• heart conditions, blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg, known diabetes or any skin illness or lesions. Also be excluded are potential participants who were ill during the 2 weeks prior to the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

5

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
men wearing Semipermeable garment
air permeable garment type BP2
air permeable garment type BP3
air permeable garment type MO
air permeable garment type BP1

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The physiological burden of different CB Protective Garments	The physiological burden of different CB Protective Garments will be mesured by a heat tolerance test (HTT). The subjects will undergo an HTT wearing different CB Protective Garments and the results which indicate physiological burden will be compared between the different garments.	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rectal temperature	The rectal temperature will be mesured by rectal thermistore.	1 year
Skin temperature	The skin temperature will be mesured by skin thermistores conected to 3 different sites (chest, leg and arm).	1 year
Heart rate	Heart rate will be mesured by a polar watch.	1 year
Sweat rate	The sweat rate will be calculated in each HTT from the subject's weight before and after the test and his water balance.	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amit Druyan, M.D, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): October 14, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 29, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 28, 2012
• Last Verified: March 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 883-2009-CLIT