Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
Published on: November 21, 2017
A new hand-cooling device to enhance firefighter heat strain recovery
Yang Zhang1, Phillip A Bishop, Catalina Casaru
1Human Performance Laboratory, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, USA. yzhang68@bama.ua.edu
Abstract:
This study tested a new portable cooling device for fire fighting recovery. Participants (N = 8) walked and did arm curls (time-weighted VO(2): 1.6 L x min(-1) on a treadmill for 40 min in a heated chamber (wet bulb globe temperature: 33.7 degrees C; relative humidity: 40-45%) while wearing firefighter turn-out gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Immediately on finishing exercise, participants recovered for 40 min with either a hand-cooling device or seated passive recovery at an ambient temperature of 22 degrees C, 35% RH in a repeated-measures counterbalanced design. The cooling device had little impact on recovery during the first 30 min; however, compared with passive cooling, the cooling device resulted in significantly lower rectal temperature (T(re)) during the last 10 min. Relative to starting T(re) of the recovery period, Delta T(re) at 35 min had fallen 0.51 +/- 0.19 degrees C (passive) and 0.76 +/- 0.30 degrees C (active) (p = 0.03); and at 40 min Delta T(re) had fallen 0.63 +/- 0.17 degrees C (passive) and 0.88 +/- 0.31 degrees C (active) (p = 0.03). Cooling capacity of the device calculated from Delta T(re) over the whole recovery period averaged about 144% of passive. Reductions in heat storage enhance worker safety and performance in hot environments.
Related Concept Videos
Decreased Body Temperature
Thermal Stress
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Burn Injuries
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
Methods of reducing fever
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:

