Anthony Blackburn is vice president of sales & marketing for CoolShirt Systems in Stockbridge, Ga. The company is a global leader in the design, development and production of active cooling systems in multiple markets, including industry, fire service, EMS, auto racing, athletics and medical. Anthony can be reached at (800) 345-3176, Tony@coolshirt.com or visit www.coolshirt.com.
The most basic and most widely used form of cooled personal protective equipment (PPE) is vests that use phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage.
The effects of heat stress range from simple discomfort to life-threatening illnesses such as heat stroke. Aside from the environmental factors (such as temperature, humidity, air movement, and radiant heat), the person’s work regimen and clothing requirements are also factors that determine the risk of heat strain.
