Cooling Vests Shootout!
July 24, 2011
ActiveMSers.org tests Steele, ArcticHeat, Glacier Tek, and Polar Products in cooling vest shootout to see which performs best.
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Motocross riders stay on top with RPCM Cooling Vest
June 5, 2011
- Many riders walked down to the line wearing cooling vests like the one pictured here worn by Nick Wey. The vests can be frozen or put in an ice chest before being worn and help to drop the body’s core temperature tremendously before the extreme heat of the race.
- One year ago, Geico Powersports/Honda’s Eli Tomac was struggling with heat exhaustion issues; this year the young rider has a season of racing under his belt and it shows. At Freestone, he looked very strong in both extremely hot motos, running at the front of the pack in both and ultimately turning in 5-6 moto scores for fifth overall. Like a lot of riders, he elected to wear a cooling vest while sitting on the starting line.
NO COOLING VEST
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson also appeared to be equally as spent as Cunningham following the final moto. Here, Dean relaxes before walking up on the podium to collect his second place overall trophy. Dean won the first moto, but after coming together with Barcia in the early stages of the second, the best finish he could muster was a third.
Am I hot or not?
June 3, 2011
It was the summer of 1981 and I was a newly enlisted U.S. Army Military Police soldier.
My basic combat training took place just outside Anniston, Ala., at a now retired Army base known as Ft. McClellan. It was above 100°F every single day for weeks straight, and that’s not even counting the “heat index” that we use today. Day after day, we experienced heat like most of us had never even imagined. I am a Florida boy, so I was mostly acclimated, and besides, we were tough guys. We weren’t going to let the conditions beat us, and even if they did, we certainly were not going to admit it. Not to anyone. Not ever.
My basic combat training took place just outside Anniston, Ala., at a now retired Army base known as Ft. McClellan. It was above 100°F every single day for weeks straight, and that’s not even counting the “heat index” that we use today. Day after day, we experienced heat like most of us had never even imagined. I am a Florida boy, so I was mostly acclimated, and besides, we were tough guys. We weren’t going to let the conditions beat us, and even if they did, we certainly were not going to admit it. Not to anyone. Not ever.
But we had this hill that we called Bain’s Gap. It had a road over the top which was about a 20-percent grade, or as we used to say “uphill both ways.” It was littered with WWI UXO (World War I UneXploded Ordnance); some more of it was found as recently as 2010. Ft. McClellan froze in winter and was a kiln in summer; it was a perfect training ground and opportunity for weather-related injuries.
One day in July that year, we had a combat forced road march, otherwise known as a long hike (about 25 miles) at a fast pace, carrying about 100 pounds of gear and wearing a full-body chemical protective suit known as MOPP gear. I was walking point and I was carrying an M60 machine gun, which we called the “pig” because it weighed 23 pounds and consumed so many bullets you had to have an extra guy just to carry ammo. Though it was heavy and difficult, I loved that thing because with it I could easily take out a man-sized target (or an elephant) from more than a half-mile away. It was “sting on a sling.”
Realistic conditions
It was training, so nobody was actually trying to kill us yet (except, we often believed, our drill sergeants.) Nonetheless, there was stress of every sort and not the least of it was heat stress. Army training is very realistic and a lot of highly skilled and combat experienced people work extremely hard to make training conditions as similar as possible to real combat.
We were marching up Bains Gap Road, a difficult hill anytime, but much more so during 100°F+ heat. There were “gas” attacks, during which we were assaulted by operatives with tear gas emitting devices, (back then called CS grenades.) When the gas signal was sounded by someone near you, it was necessary to don protective masks and hoods. Failure to do so in time would really burn you. (We now know that the CS gas causes severe lung damage and also liver and kidney damage…but back then it was used daily for training.)
“I had no idea…”
During one stop, around mile #20, I suddenly had a heat syncope and heat stroke. I did not see it coming. I did not feel bad, and had no idea what was happening. I remember lying on my back in a ditch, staring up at a bunch of guys. I could not recognize anyone or hear what they were saying; everything sounded like I was inside a drum of water. I did not know where I was or what was happening. I later learned that the drill sergeant was giving an impromptu class to the rest of the guys on what actual heat stroke looks like.
He, of course, blamed the entire thing on me, saying that I obviously did not eat or drink enough during that day and got myself dehydrated. It was my fault, as is everything when you’re in military training. The same is true in regular life…the number one person responsible for protecting you from dangers is right there in your bathroom mirror staring at you.
About 12 minutes later, we landed on the roof of Noble Army Hospital in the Medevac chopper. An IV had already been started and I already felt quite a lot better. The medical doctor told me that if a few more minutes had elapsed prior to the medics’ arrival in the helicopter, I’d very likely have died.
Toughness isn’t enough
The moral of the story: If we’re going to be dumb, we’ve got to be tough and even then sometimes being tough isn’t enough to save you. So, after some years of being “dumb and tough,” I’ve learned it’s much better to be smart. You can still be tough without risk-ing serious injury or death.
Today we have safety tools that did not exist back then. We have personal and area heat stress monitors. We have portable hydration packs that allow us to carry large quantities of water or electrolyte beverages and drink them through a tube even when both hands are busy doing work. Uniforms come in “heatdissipating” fabrics. We have thermal imagers so we can “see” the heat.
For intense heat conditions, cooling vests absorb and dissipate the excess heat our bodies produce when under physical stress, in adverse conditions, and even while wearing PPE. We have beads on a string… which are just a number of beads on a piece of string. You hang the string on your belt or uniform, and you move a bead each time you consume a quantity of water. If your employee has not consumed a sufficient quantity of water, a supervisor can see it and immediately give that person a reminder.
We usually have the ability to keep some ice and water in a cooler on most job sites. Keep a few common bed sheets handy. If someone has a heat episode, quickly soak a sheet and wrap their body in it. Heat moves very fast and you can get someone from “danger zone” to “safe zone” pretty quickly. Maintain a heat stress kit like a first aid kit, only with different ingredients.
Here’s a head start for you: Go to your favorite search engine and search for these keywords:
- “cooling vest”
- “personal heat stress monitor”
- “personal hydration system”
- “track water intake”
- “spot coolers”
- “electrolyte replacement”
Knowledge is power, and if you know the data and research, you’ll be better able to protect yourself and others. I challenge you: Go out and find out about new products, new technologies and new methods for identifying and protecting against heat hazards.
This article was published on the INDUSTRIAL SAFETY & HYGIENE NEWS web site.
Chicago area temps the hottest in more than a hundred years
May 11, 2011
Summer starts early in Chicago with record breaking temperatures. O’Hare International Airport, the official recording station for the Chicago area reported a record temperature of 90 degrees, that breaks the previous record high of 89 set in 1896.
Protect yourself against heat stress.
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What You Need To Know About Hot Weather And Your Pet
April 26, 2011
Just like us, our pets need care when the weather is hot. They need to be hydrated, they need food and they need shelter. There are many instances, however, where these simple but life-saving items are either forgotten or neglected.
On these hot Florida days, if your pet is an outside pet he/she needs to be monitored very closely and have certain items at their disposal. For starters, pets need water and food. It is illegal to leave your pet for more than 24 hours without either of these items available. If you are going to be away for more than 24 hours, arrange for someone to take care of them for you.
Heat stroke kills S. Fla. police dog
September 25, 2009
PLANTATION — A South Florida police dog has died after authorities say he suffered a heat stroke.
Officials say Kimbo, a Belgian Malinois K-9 with the Plantation Police Department, died Wednesday. His death came two days after he was searching for an alleged criminal.
Police say the 5-year-old dog had been with the department since 2006 and was credited with assisting in 67 arrests and numerous drug seizures.
Kimbo and his handler, officer Darryl Radziwon, were responding to assist a Broward Sheriff’s Office search for a robbery suspect in Tamarac on Monday. That’s when police say the dog collapsed from an apparent seizure and was rushed to an animal hospital. Kimbo was put to sleep Wednesday.
Read the full article.
Recommended products for dogs working in extreme heat.
| Classic RPCM® ChillyDog Cooling Vest |
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| Price: $129.00 | |
MS Chapter provides finanical assistance for cooling vest purchase
September 11, 2009
Heat Stress can be Extremely Dangerous to Diabetics
September 10, 2009
People with Diabetes are more at risk to serious problems when heat stress is a factor. Make sure you take all the necessary precautions when working in extreme heat. Proper protection can mean the difference between life and death.
Read the full article for more information on keeping yourself cool in extreme heat situations.
Recommended products for working in extreme heat
| Classic RPCM® Cool Vest – Orange |
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| Price: $169.00 | |
Help Donate an RPCM® ChillyDog Cooling Vest
June 17, 2008
| Our favorite non-profit organization is raising money for important gear for the Military Working Dogs. If you want to help, click the link…it’s 100% tax deductible and you’ll help a pup in need. |
Melbourne, FL – In response to rapid growth, Glacier Tek, Inc. expands its manufacturing facility
| Melbourne, FL – In response to another rapid growth spurt and several new international distributors, Glacier Tek, Inc. has expanded its manufacturing facilities again to more than double the size. Look for a newer and easier website coming soon for your secure website for online ordering. We accept all credit cards, PayPal, and several forms of electronic payments. We have lucrative distributor and affiliate programs set up now and invite interested businesses to inquire using our website information form. |
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