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Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Mobilizes to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Heat: 'New Initiatives at OSHA and Across Agencies Will Enhance Workplace Safety, Build Local Resilience, and Address Disproportionate Heat Impacts'
From the Document: "President Biden is launching a coordinated, interagency effort to respond to extreme heat that threatens the lives and livelihoods of Americans, especially workers, children, and seniors. While climate-related disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods produce dramatic images of devastation, extreme heat often takes place out of sight and out of the news. But heat is the nation's leading weather-related killer. The United States experienced a dangerously hot summer this year, breaking records [hyperlink] last set during the Dust Bowl. The climate crisis is making heat waves more intense and frequent - endangering workers and communities. During the June 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest, states reported hundreds of excess deaths and thousands of emergency room visits for heat-related illness. Climate scientists have concluded that this heat wave would have been virtually impossible [hyperlink] without climate change. [...] Recognizing the seriousness of this threat, the Biden Administration is taking immediate action on heat hazards to protect workers and communities as part of a broader commitment to workplace safety, climate resilience, and environmental justice. The Departments of Labor [namely Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)], Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Agriculture; the Environmental Protection Agency; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are announcing a set of actions that will reduce heat-related illness, protect public health, and support the economy[.]"
United States. White House Office
2021-09-20
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Climate Change and Extreme Heat Events
From the Overview: "Extreme heat events pose a serious danger to people throughout the United States. Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have shown that exposure to extreme heat can increase discomfort and fatigue, cause heat cramps, and increase emergency room visits and hospitalizations. It can also kill. From 1999 through 2009, extreme heat exposure caused or contributed to more than 7,800 deaths in the United States. Extreme heat is a real danger to human health that will become worse with time. Experts project that as our climate changes, extreme heat events in the United States will become more frequent, longer lasting, and more severe. By the end of this century, extremely high temperatures that currently occur once every 20 years could happen as often as every two to four years. Learning about how to prepare for and respond to extreme heat events will help protect our communities, especially the most vulnerable populations, from avoidable death and hardship. This document describes extreme heat events, how an extreme heat event threatens public health, and how to prepare for and respond to such an event. It explains how the frequency, duration, and severity of extreme heat events are increasing as a result of climate change, and includes links to local programs and real-world examples from across the country."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
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Silent Killer: The Rising Problem of Extreme Heat in the U.S., Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, July 21, 2021
This is the July 21, 2021 hearing on "Silent Killer: The Rising Problem of Extreme Heat in the U.S.," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. From the opening statement of Mikie Sherrill: "As extreme heat ramps up in the U.S., so too will heat-related illnesses and deaths. Extreme heat is the deadliest natural disaster, killing more people than floods, tornadoes, and other extreme weather events combined. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) officially reports that heat kills more than 600 Americans a year, but other studies point to this being a severe undercount. The number may be as high as 12,000 heat-related deaths in the U.S., with communities of color and low-income communities most at risk. The harmful effects of extreme heat to human health stresses our public health system. It also widens gaps in equity, and leads to losses in worker productivity, costing our economy billions. Sectors such as agriculture and utilities are also vulnerable." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Vivek Shandas, Melissa Guardaro, Shimon Elkabetz, and Aaron Bernstein.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022
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Climate Change and Extreme Heat: What You Can Do to Prepare
"Extreme heat events in the United States are already occurring and expected to become more common, more severe, and longer-lasting as our climate changes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed this booklet to identify steps that you can take now to prepare for an extreme heat event-and to help your families, friends, and neighbors, too. This booklet answers some of the key questions about extreme heat in a changing climate: why extreme heat is on the rise, how it might affect you, and what you can do before and during an extreme heat event to reduce your health risk. Scientific information used in this document is derived from peer-reviewed synthesis and assessment products, including those published by the United States Global Change Research Program and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as other peer-reviewed sources and federal agency resources."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); United States. Environmental Protection Agency
2016-10
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FEMA Extreme Heat Factsheet
This document from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is a fact sheet containing information on extreme heat. From the document: "Heat kills by pushing the human body beyond its limits. In extreme heat and high humidity (which is when the
air has moisture and feels sticky), the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature and keep the body comfortable. A heat wave is an extended period of extreme heat, and there is often high humidity. These conditions can be dangerous for people who don't take care of themselves properly."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Sweltering in Place: COVID-19, Extreme Heat, and Environmental Justice, Hearing Before the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 14, 2020
This is the July 14, 2020 hearing on "Sweltering in Place: COVID-19, Extreme Heat, and Environmental Justice," held before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. From the Opening statement of Eddie Bernice Johnson: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has not treated everyone the same. The death rate for African-American, Hispanic, and Native American people is much higher than for white people of all age categories. A 'Washington Post' analysis found that majority-AfricanAmerican counties have six times the death rate of majority-white counties. The trends for exposure to extreme heat and other environmental harms mirror those of COVID-19. Extreme heat is especially problematic in cities, where urban heat islands form, making some neighborhoods much hotter than others. Urban heat islands occur primarily in neighborhoods of color and low-income areas, where there are often less trees, more concrete, less access to air conditioning, and are located closer to highways and factories." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Heather MCTeer Toney, Mustafa Santiago Ali, Cecil Corbin-Mark, and Hilton Kelley.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020
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Protecting Californians from Extreme Heat: A State Action Plan to Build Community Resilience
From the Introduction: "California's best climate science projects that every corner of the state will be impacted in years and decades to come by higher average temperatures and more frequent and severe heat waves. These changes will pose a risk to every region and sector across natural, built, and social systems. The 2022 Action Plan outlines California's all-of-government approach to mitigating the health, economic, cultural, ecological, and social impacts of increasing average temperatures and heat waves. It constitutes California's response to what has become known as 'extreme heat' and accompanying 'extreme heat events.'"
California
2022-04
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Mapping the Vulnerability of Human Health to Extreme Heat in the United States
"Spatial analyses of vulnerable locations and populations - such as people in urban areas susceptible to heat waves - have led to the utilization of maps to depict the vulnerability of populations to weather extremes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is exploring challenges associated with mapping the vulnerability of human health to hazards associated with extreme heat, especially the lack of agreement regarding methodologies and analytic approaches that have, at times, been based on convenience or familiarity as opposed to efficacy or comparability [...] This report was designed to inform state and local health departments, community planners, emergency preparedness professionals, and other stakeholders, as they prepare maps that convey useful knowledge on exposure to extreme heat while helping to identify and implement effective adaptation strategies."
United States. Environmental Protection Agency
Gamble, Janet L.; Schmeltz, Michael T.; Hurley, Bradford J. . . .
2018-08
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Extreme Heat Events and Health
This webpage provides information on extreme heat. The webpage includes the following sections: "Overview"; "Health Issues and Extreme Heat"; "Preparedness and Response"; "Worker and Responder Safety"; "Specific Populations"; "Health Resources for the Public"; "Multi-language Resources"; and "Animals and Extreme Heat". The page also includes links to related resources.
National Library of Medicine (U.S.). Disaster Information Management Research Center
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Extreme Heat During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "This year Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are dealing with the dual risks of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and extreme heat, amongst many other compound disasters. For many staff and volunteers, the heat risks may be amplified due to considerations for COVID-19 like wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). At the same time, vulnerable individuals may be reluctant to seek cool spaces during a heatwave, out of fear of infection. These guidance materials provide practical steps that National Societies can take to protect staff, volunteers, and vulnerable people from heat extremes."
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre; Global Heat Health Information Network
2020-11-20?
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Selected Federal Financial Assistance for Emergency Response to Extreme Heat [Updated June 17, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Summer 2021 brought extreme heat to many areas of the United States,1 with a historic 'heat dome' setting temperature records in multiple states.2 As of May 2022, the National Weather Service's 'Seasonal Temperature Outlook' for summer 2022 'favors above normal temperatures' for much of the country. [...] This report provides a brief overview of existing federal resources available to respond to the impacts of extreme heat on humans and communities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lee, Erica A.; Wyatt, Taylor R.; Horn, Diane P. . . .
2022-06-17
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Selected Federal Financial Assistance for Emergency Response to Extreme Heat: In Brief [August 11, 2021]
From the Document: "This report identifies federal assistance potentially available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Agriculture, and other authorities for certain extreme heat response costs incurred by SLTTs [state, local, tribal, territorial governments] and eligible community organizations (e.g., hospitals). Given evolving and flexible program and grant guidelines, the lists in this report may not be comprehensive. Program applicability to each applicant or incident may vary. Federal assistance for other costs related to extreme heat (e.g., preparedness, infrastructural improvements, and assistance for individuals) are not detailed here, but may be available from the Department of Energy, EPA (e.g., the Heat Islands Reduction Program), and other agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lee, Erica A.; Wyatt, Taylor R.; Cecire, Michael H. . . .
2021-08-11
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Fact Sheet: Extreme Heat
This four page document is designed to inform the public about the risks extreme heat can pose to their health and preventive steps they can take. Basic facts and statistics on fires in the United States are also presented.
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
1993-09-01?
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Affecting Health Directly: Extreme Heat, Health Harms Cards
These CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Health Harms Postcards describe the effects of extreme heat on public health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
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Climate and Health Outlook: Extreme Heat, June 2022
From the Document: "Welcome to the second edition of the Climate and Health Outlook from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE). The Climate and Health Outlook is an effort to inform health professionals and the public on how our health may be affected in the next 30 and 90 days by climate events and provide resources to take proactive action. This edition focuses on the months of June-August, 2022 and uses the most current long-term temperature forecasts that come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to illustrate how extreme heat poses a health risk for all Americans."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services; United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. Office of Climate Change and Health Equity
2022-06
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Climate and Health Outlook: Extreme Heat, May 2022
From the Document: "Welcome to the first edition of the Climate and Health Outlook from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE). The Climate and Health Outlook is an effort to inform health professionals and the public on how our health may be affected in the next 30 and 90 days by climate events and provide resources to take proactive action. This edition focuses on the 2022 early summer season and uses the most current long-term temperature forecasts that come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to illustrate how extreme heat poses a health risk for all Americans."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2022-05
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Report on Wind Chill Temperature and Extreme Heat Indices: Evaluation and Improvement Projects
"The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM) is an interdepartmental office established under the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to ensure the effective use of United States (U.S.) federal meteorological resources by leading the systematic coordination of operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research among the federal agencies. […]The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM) is an interdepartmental office established under the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to ensure the effective use of United States (U.S.) federal meteorological resources by leading the systematic coordination of operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research among the federal agencies."
United States. Department of Commerce; United States. Office of Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research
2003-01
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Heat Waves and Human Health: Emerging Evidence and Experience to Inform Risk Management in a Warming World
From the Key Messages: "This report provides a starting point to inform risk management in a warming world with a specific emphasis on experiences in the developing world. It is structured as follows: [1] What are heat waves? describes the physical characteristics of extreme heat, including heat waves, and common indices used to assess and measure heat stress. [2] How do heat waves impact health? summarizes how heat waves directly and indirectly impact mortality and morbidity, describing dimensions of heat vulnerability. [3] Heat waves under a changing climate summarizes the likely changes to spatial and temporal aspects of heat waves under changing climatic conditions. [4] What is being done to manage heat risk? summarizes the global experience in developing robust preparedness, response and adaptation mechanisms, including HHAPs [heat-health action plans] and HEWSs [heat wave early warning system]. [5] Moving forward identifies critical gaps in managing heat risk and considers actions that can enrich the global response to heat waves."
United States. Agency for International Development. Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
Ebi, Kristie L.; Zermoglio, Fernanda; Lee, Veronique
2019-02
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Heat Response Plans: Summary of Evidence and Strategies for Collaboration and Implementation
From the Executive Summary: "Extreme heat is a major public health concern in the United States. Temperatures are increasing across the country, with more frequent and severe heat waves in many regions. This trend is projected to continue. Exposure to heat may increase the risk of illness particularly among sensitive groups such as people who do not have access to air conditioning, older adults, young children, people working outdoors, athletes, the socially isolated, people with existing chronic conditions, and some communities of color. Health departments, their partners, and other government agencies have undertaken a variety of strategies to protect the public from high temperatures. One potential strategy is a heat response plan - a coordinated plan that describes and organizes activities to prevent heat-related morbidity and mortality in a community. Health departments at all levels (state, local, Tribal, and territorial) and their partners can develop and implement a response to protect their community and vulnerable populations. There is evidence that heat response plans can protect health, but mixed evidence on the effectiveness of individual components of a heat response plan and the degree of overall health protection. This document is intended to give a summary of extreme heat, the health burden of heat exposure, the impacts of climate change, and components and effectiveness of heat response plans with a focus on relevant peer-reviewed literature and existing heat response plans. Resources and examples of successful implementation and potential collaborative efforts are included."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); National Center for Environmental Health (U.S.)
Abbinett, Jessica; Schramm, Paul J.; Widerynski, Stasia . . .
2020-01-31?
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Extreme Temperature and COVID 19 in Texas Prisons
From the Executive Summary: "Texas is one of at least thirteen states in the U.S. that does not have universal air-conditioning in state prisons. Throughout the history of imprisonment in Texas, incarcerated people have experienced great harm from extreme heat and a lack of adequate protections. Although 87 percent of households in the U.S. use air-conditioning equipment, only 30 percent of Texas prison units are fully air-conditioned. Temperatures inside units have been shown to regularly reach 110 degrees and in at least one unit have topped 149 degrees. [...] Findings from this report demonstrate how current heat mitigation policies do not result in adequate protections against heat-related illness for incarcerated people. The experiences of incarcerated people in Texas prisons illuminate systemic issues and patterns across units and also expand the understanding of heat-related illness and death as an ongoing but preventable disaster. Additionally, surveys and letters collected in 2020 reveal how the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted incarcerated populations in Texas, created further challenges to the individually focused heat mitigation strategies in Texas prisons. Incarcerated people have described the environment of extreme heat and the COVID-19 pandemic as a 'living hell.' Each section includes descriptions of how heat-mitigation practices were impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in addition to a separate section which provides a more in depth look at the relationship between the two hazards of extreme heat and COVID-19."
Texas A & M University; Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center
Purdum, J. Carlee; Dominick, Amite; Dixon, Benika C.
2022-07
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Heat Exposure and Cardiovascular Health: A Summary for Health Departments
From the Executive Summary: "Extreme heat events (EHEs) are a leading cause of weather-related injury and death in the United States, and under a changing climate, these meteorological episodes are predicted to increase in both frequency and intensity. Prolonged heat exposure from EHEs places an increased strain on the heart and may lead to heat-related illness if the cardiovascular system fails to properly thermoregulate internal body temperature. Every individual is susceptible to heat-related illness, however, those with reduced cardiovascular function and pre-existing cardiovascular diseases are at a greater risk for morbidity and mortality during EHEs. This document gives an overview of our current understanding of heat exposure and its impact on cardiovascular health outcomes, an overview of the medications that may exacerbate heat-related cardiovascular illness, and a summary of the interaction between extreme heat and air pollutants, and their collective impact on cardiovascular health. Additionally, this document summarizes epidemiologic evidence and identifies gaps in the extant peer-reviewed literature on the effectiveness of strategies and interventions to protect against heat-related cardiovascular disease and death. This information is intended to aid health departments and other health professionals in understanding and responding to the impacts of heat exposure on cardiovascular health."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Schramm, Paul J.; Vaidyanathan, Ambarish; Halaharvi, Harikrishna
2020-07
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What Workers Need to Know About Heat Stress Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "Your employer may tailor the existing heat illness prevention program and policies to the unique challenges of working during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Heat stress is the total amount of heat your body encounters. It may come from a variety of sources, such as: [1] Heat from work processes and machinery (e.g., forge); [2] Environmental temperatures, humidity, and lack of air movement (e.g., no wind or inadequate air circulation); [3] Internal metabolic processes (e.g., illnesses that create a fever); [4] Heat generated by your muscles from physical exertion. Clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) may also trap heat, further increasing heat exposure. Workers who are exposed to extreme heat, work in hot environments, or perform physically demanding work in moderate heat environments may be at risk for heat-related illnesses and injuries."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-08-26
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Heat Index Climatology for the North-Central United States
From the Introduction: "Heat is an underrated danger, with an average of 175 Americans losing their lives annually from heat-related causes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1979-2003 excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States. During this period, more people died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, and floods combined. [...] This study will attempt to show the frequency of various heat index values for a section of the United States, focusing on the Plains, upper and middle Mississippi River Valleys, and the western Great Lakes. Also, the physiological response to heat will be briefly investigated, including a review of how heat acclimatization affects the human body's biology. This protective biological response is an important consideration when evaluating the impact of the heat on those that are, or are not, acclimatized to the heat."
United States. National Weather Service
Rieck, Todd
2014?
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Use of Cooling Centers to Prevent Heat-Related Illness: Summary of Evidence and Strategies for Implementation
From the Executive Summary: "Extreme heat is a major public health concern in the United States. The trend of increasing frequency and duration of heat events ('heat waves') is expected to continue in the future. Exposure to extreme heat can cause a variety of health problems, including heat stroke and even death. Public health departments, their partners, and other government organizations have undertaken a variety of strategies to protect the public from high temperatures. The use of cooling centers, a cool site, or air-conditioned building designated as a safe location during extreme heat, is a common strategy. This document is intended to give a summary of the effectiveness of cooling centers, with a focus on highly relevant peer-reviewed literature. It also provides an overview of steps for the implementation of cooling centers."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects
Widerynski, Stasia; Schramm, Paul J.; Conlon, Kathryn C. . . .
2017-08-17?
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How Are Cities Planning for Heat? Analysis of United States Municipal Plans
From the Abstract: "Heat has become a central concern for cities everywhere, but heat governance has historically lagged behind other climate change hazards. This study examines 175 municipal plans from the 50 most populous cities in the United States to understand which aspects of urban heat are included or not in city plans and what factors explain inclusion. We find that a majority of plans mention heat, but few include strategies to address it and even fewer cite sources of information. The term 'extreme heat event' (EHE) is significantly more likely to be paired with institutional actions as a part of hazard planning, while 'urban heat island' (UHI) is more likely to be paired with green and grey infrastructure interventions as a part of general planning. Disparity and thermal comfort framings are not significantly related to any solutions and are used least. Plan type, followed by environmental networks (e.g. C40, Urban Sustainability Directors Network, Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities), explain variation in plan content; social and environmental context do not. Findings point to the emergence of two independent heat governance systems, EHE and UHI, and several gaps in heat planning: integration, specificity, solutions, disparity, economy, and thermal comfort."
Institute of Physics Publishing
Turner, V. Kelly; French, Emma Mehlig; Dialesandro, John . . .
2022-06-10
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Heat.gov [website]
From the Webpage: "Heat.gov serves as the premier source of information regarding heat and health for the nation. This portal seeks to improve federal, state, and local information and capacity to reduce the health, economic, and infrastructural impacts of extreme heat. Heat.gov is the webportal for the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS)." Featured interactive tools include "Heat & Health Tracker" and "The Climate Explorer."
United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
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Going to Extremes: Climate Change and the Increasing Risk of Weather Disasters
"The United States and the world experienced a barrage of extreme weather events over the last several years consistent with what climate scientists have been predicting from global warming pollution. Indeed this summer, U.S. weather was almost apocalyptic: searing heat, ferocious fires, hurricanes, and severe storms left people injured, homeless and in some cases, dead. This July was the hottest month ever recorded in the lower 48 since recordkeeping began in 1895 and the heat claimed at least 100 lives. January through August was the warmest first eight months period for the continental United States, breaking the previous record set in 2006 by 1°F. The year's extreme heat contributed to widespread drought across the majority of the country. In July and again in September, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported that 64% of the continental United States was in drought, putting this year's drought on par with the worst months of the multi-year droughts of the 1930s and 1950s. This extreme summer follows a period of unusual weather that has plagued the country for more than a year, including an unusually warm winter and an early spring drought. In fact, August 2011 to July 2012 is the warmest 12-month period that the continental United States has experienced since the beginning of recordkeeping in 1895. This fire season over 8.6 million acres have burned in the United States, an area about the size of New Jersey and Connecticut combined. With fires still burning in parts of the West in early September, this year may equal or surpass the almost 8.8 million acres burnt in 2006, the worst fire year in the last decade."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources; United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce
2012-09-25
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Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Global Change Research Program for Fiscal Year 2015
"Global change alters the capacity of the Earth to sustain life. It encompasses global climate change and processes that interact with climate to affect Earth systems. The impacts of global change are being felt now, both around the world and here in the United States. America and the world are getting warmer, global sea level is rising, and some types of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe. The most recent decade was the hottest ever recorded, and temperatures are projected to rise another 2°F to 4°F in most areas of the United States over the next few decades. In some regions of the country, prolonged heat and drought are contributing to larger wildfires and longer fire seasons. For coastal communities, sea level rise, combined with coastal storms, has increased the risk of erosion, flooding, and damage to property and infrastructure. The rising temperature and increasing acidity of ocean water is combining with other stresses, such as overfishing and pollution, to impact marine ecosystems and resources. Climate impacts on agriculture and water supplies have been increasing and are projected to become more severe. Extreme heat, sea level rise, and heavy rains are threatening infrastructure like roads, airports, port facilities, energy systems, and military bases. Climate change affects human health through more extreme weather events, decreased air quality, and changing ranges of diseases transmitted by food, water, and insects."
U.S. Global Change Research Program
2014
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Cooling Individuals Using Encapsulating Protective Clothing in a Hot Humid Environment
"Impermeable or semi-permeable garments providing protection against chemical and biological warfare agent (CBW) threats can retain large quantities of body heat. Body heat trapped within these encapsulating garments needs to be removed if the garment user is to adequately perform required tasks, especially when users are physically active. Otherwise, trapped heat leads to hyperthermia, a potentially dangerous condition that can severely degrade mission performance, cause injury, and in extreme cases, result in death. The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) routinely employs encapsulating CBW protective garments in all environmental conditions while performing a variety of demanding physical tasks. CBIRF personnel experience performance degradation and reduced endurance while wearing these garments during training and actual missions. They are currently investigating a number of advanced cooling concepts that can theoretically address this problem. The present study was intended to evaluate four advanced cooling methodologies (hydro-weave suit (HW), liquid cooled vest (LCV), phase change vest (PCV), and Super Critical Air Mobility Pack (SCAMP)) in combination with compatible chemical protective outer garments (CPOGs) ensembles."
Naval Air Warfare Center (U.S.). Aircraft Division
Kaufman, Jonathan W.
2001-10-10
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Wildland Firefighters Advanced Personal Protection System
"Wildland fires have no bounds. Wildland firefighters are often required to respond to emergencies in remote areas. To get there, they must hike long distances and wear and carry heavy gear. These challenges are made more difficult by the extreme heat and humidity that typically accompany wildland fires. Additionally, the heavy personal protective gear needed to prevent injuries makes heat stress a major concern for wildland firefighting personnel. The Wildland Firefighters Advanced Personal Protection System initiative aims to develop a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1977 and 1975 certified garment system that improves radiant thermal protection; reduces heat stress; improves the form, fit and function of garments and upgrades requirements that industry uses to develop advanced gear."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2014-10-31
