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Abstract:
This study evaluated the effectiveness of three whole-body anti- exposure suits (AESs) in maintaining body temperatures during immersion in cold water (7.5 deg C). Male subjects (n=15) were monitored for rectal (Tre), chest (Tch), arm (Tar), thigh (Tth), calf (Tca) finger (Tfi) and big toe (Tto) temperatures during random trials of coveralls (CON), Marine Corps (MARCOR), Naval Clothing and Textile (NAVCLO), and MultiFabs Survival (MULFAB) suits. Coveralls was the undergarment for AES. Immersion was 20 min to knees, 20 min to waist, and up to 40 min to midchest. Consecutively, subjects did 2 min of rest, 6 min of a pipe-patching task, and 2 min of holding 25 lb over head. Maximum immersion time was 80 min. Subjects were able to stay longer (p < 0.05) in cold water wearing MULFAB (76 min), NAVCLO (80 min), and MARCOR (74 min) compared with CON (47 min). No differences in final Tre (X=36.8 deg C) and Tfi (X=20.8 deg C) occurred among AES and CON. AES Tch (Xs=35.4 deg C) and Tar (X=34.7 deg C) were higher (p < 0.05) compared with CON (29.9 deg C, 27.5 deg C, respectively). Final Tth for MULFAB (19.4 deg C) was higher (p < 0.05) than NAVCLO (16.0 deg C) and MARCOR (15.2 deg C), which were higher than CON (11.5 deg C). Final Tca for MULFAB (14.7 deg C) and NAVCLO (13.6 deg C) were higher than MARCOR (11.2 deg C) and CON (10.4 deg C). Final Tca for MARCOR (17.3 deg C) was higher than NAVCLO (13.2 deg C), MULFAB (11.6 deg C), and CON (12.1 deg C). Thus, MULFAB, NAVCLO, and MARCOR provided the best maintenance of body temperatures.
| Limitations: |
 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE |
| Description: |
Interim rept. |
| Pages: |
29 |
| Report Date: |
NOV 96 |
| Report Number: |
A594323 |
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