PD3-3 Evaluation of Two Types of Cooling Devices in a Warm Environment while Wearing Firefighting Protective Clothing

The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness over time of two different types of cooling devices on physiological and subjective responses in reducing physiological load during exercise on an ergometer while wearing firefighting protective clothing (FPC) in a warm temperature environment [30-℃, 50%RH]. Eight graduate students remained initially in a Pre-test room for 10 min before entering the Test-room where they rested for another 10 min, followed by 30 min-exercise and a 10 min-recovery period. The exercise intensity was set at 55 % VO2max. Rectal temperature (Tre), mean skin temperature (Tsk), heart rate (HR), body weight, and clothing weight were monitored during the four test conditions；namely：control (CON), ice-pack (ICE) and Phase Change Material of 5-℃ [PCM(5)] and 20-℃ [PCM(20)]. The cooling devices were worn under the FPC. The result of the experiment showed a decrease in Tre for PCM (5) (38.1±0.2-℃) and PCM (20) (38.1±0.3-℃) which was more than that for CON (38.3±0.2-℃) and ICE (38.2±0.3-℃). Tsk was lower during PCM (20) (36.7±0.6-℃) than CON (37.4±0.1-℃), ICE (37.0±0.6-℃), and PCM (5) (36.9±0.2-℃) (p