Heat Stress and Physiological Strain of Permeable vs. Impermeable CB Protective Garment

NCT01221012 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 883-2009-CLIT
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Current protective clothing of any kind, especially the nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) protective garments, amplify thermal stress because of the inherent properties of the clothing material. High insulation coefficient and low water vapor permeability of the protective cloth limit the ability of sweat to readily evaporate, which consequently result with a significant elevation of body temperature and with excessive body fluid loss (because of inefficient sweating) that might result with significant dehydration. Combat soldiers require to perform intense physical activities under hostile environmental conditions, including in contaminated areas that need the use of protective garments. The ability to fulfill a mission derives from the soldier's professionalism and from his physiological limits. It is well established that wearing protective garments affect tolerance time (TT) and performance. To operate in contaminated areas suitable protective garments should be worn. The inherent characteristics of the current protective garments limit, however, the effective working periods with such an ensemble, which is further aggravated in hot climate. Thus, in an attempt to increase TT and enhance work effectiveness, improved protective garments, which result with a lessened heat-stress, are under different stages of development. The relative influence of air permeability properties, garment weight and garment construction on heat stress and physiological strain will be investigated. The results will be quantified in terms of body temperatures, heart rate, fluid balance, subjective sensation and the maximum wear time (if necessary extrapolated).

Conditions

Heat Tolerance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The physiological burden of different CB Protective Garments

  The physiological burden of different CB Protective Garments will be mesured by a heat tolerance test (HTT). The subjects will undergo an HTT wearing different CB Protective Garments and the results which indicate physiological burden will be compared between the different garments.

  1 year

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Rectal temperature

  1 year

• Skin temperature

  1 year

• Heart rate

  1 year

• Sweat rate

  1 year

Study Arms (5)

men wearing Semipermeable garment

air permeable garment type BP2

air permeable garment type BP3

air permeable garment type MO

air permeable garment type BP1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Twelve young (20-30 yr) male subjects will voluntarily participate in this study

You may not qualify if:

• heart conditions, blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg, known diabetes or any skin illness or lesions. Also be excluded are potential participants who were ill during the 2 weeks prior to the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sheba medical center

Ramat Gan, Israel

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Amit Druyan, M.D

  Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Amit Druyan, M.D

CONTACT

972-03-7377180; Amit.Druyan@sheba.health.gov.il

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2010
• First Posted: October 14, 2010
• Study Start: December 1, 2010
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2013
• Study Completion: December 1, 2014
• Last Updated: March 29, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-03

Locations

IL (1)