Let us begin by making sure that we know what Heat Stress is and its symptoms.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states,

"Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, and dizziness."

For more details about the symptoms and first aid for these heat related illnesses please visit the above listed site and please remember that these same issues are faced by anyone who is active, whether through work or play, in hot environments.

Concerns over heat stress are not new, but recognition of this as a serious problem that we all need to be aware of is growing as noted in a CNN International report and the recent field study by the JGC Corporation in the Middle East, where it was reported that their programs resulted in a 50% reduction in heat illness frequency and these programs included TechNiche International products.

What I would like to focus on are options available to you that can help you to prevent Heat Stress.

TechNiche International has developed and produced several technologies around keeping the individual cool and comfortable in hot environments. Two key technologies are our HyperKewl Evaporative Cooling Fabric and our CoolPaxPhase Change Cooling inserts. Both help to reduce the temperature of the individual at the skin level, helping to reduce the heat the individual is feeling and exposed to while working or playing outside. Both can be used for work or play to help improve comfort, and performance, while helping to combat Heat Stress. While these two technologies can play a key role in helping to prevent heat stress, they should not be used alone, but must be used in conjunction with good hydration, shade and personal awareness of how the heat is impacting you as an individual.

TechNiche's HyperKewl Evaporative Cooling product line can cool the individual up to 15F below the ambient temperature, depending on environmental conditions. Cool Pax can keep the individual at a fixed 58F (14C) for up to 3 hrs. Both technologies are easily activated and can be worn with little or no interference to movement.

Cool Pax - The Technology

The key ingredient to our Cool Pax technology is phase change material, a non-toxic, non-flammable, non-combustible high purity alkane material. Our Cool Pax are not water based, which means they are not gels (water based cooling packs). Cool Pax freeze at 58F (14C). They then cool the user by absorbing heat away from the body, keeping the environment inside the vest and near the user at a comfortable 58F. There is no ice burn, condensation or fluctuating temperatures when using Cool Pax and they are lighter than water packs and cool for longer. Our standard vest cools an individual for 2-3 hrs and can be re-charged in a freezer or cooler in 35-45 mins.

We seal the phase change material in high strength polyurethane utilizing RF welders allowing them to withstand significant pressure.

Cool Pax - How to Use It

Cool Pax do not need airflow to work and are most often utilized in limited airflow environments such as in high temperature manufacturing or Haz-mat suits. However, they are also the item of choice for athletes during pre-cooling and post-cooling activities for many of the benefits listed above, stable temperature, no ice burn, lighter than water etc. help them with pre-cooling and post cooling during competitions.

In my next blog I will cover the use of Cool Pax cooling by athletes in more detail.

Ioannis Anastasakis
President
TechNiche International
www.techniche-intl.com

TechNiche International, keeping you comfortable at work, rest or play!!

The Technology-HyperKewl

HyperKewl Fabric is designed to absorb and hold water and then slowly release it through evaporation. It is the only fabric of its kind specifically developed to be used in garments for personal cooling. Our unique HyperKewl fabric absorbs, stores and releases water within a multi-layered structure.

We usually combine a water proof layer on the inside and a breathable fabric on the outside. Water held by the HyperKewl fabric is released through evaporation and a chill effect is produced. We look at it as supercharging the body's natural cooling process. Humans sweat, this sweat then evaporates on the skin, cooling the individual. By using our HyperKewl fabric in a multi-layered structure, we have been able to surround you with water, stored in the HyperKewl garment, that then evaporates to cool you off, while you stay dry.
HyperKewl is a drapeable fabric that evenly absorbs water throughout the fabric so that there is no odd sausage like swelling of the garment. These unique properties make it possible to produce hats, vests, shirts etc that look like any other garment when activated.

Users can expect the HyperKewl fabric to provide temperatures that are 10-15 degrees (F) cooler than the ambient temperature, depending on airflow, humidity and other environmental conditions. This temperature variance is felt most keenly on the skin. Your skin is cooler than the outside temperature and so you then feel cooler. HyperKewl fabrics do not "cool the core", but do cool the skin for maximum comfort. Please be aware that no evaporative cooling based garment cools the core as this would involve modifying your core body temperature, and evaporative cooling is not powerful enough to do this.

HyperKewl is best used in dry climates. Its effectiveness becomes diminished when humidity starts passing 80%. It will still work past 90% humidity but you will need significant airflow such as found when riding a motorcycle.

How to Use It - HyperKewl

I think that one of the best features of HyperKewl is how easy it is to activate and use. Soak the garment in water for 2mins, gently squeeze it out, and put it on. Its that simple. Now there are certainly more tricks of the trade. For example, when I use my 6201 KewlShirt when playing soccer, I will often place it in the fridge for 15-20 mins to get an extra chill effect that lasts 15-20 mins. Great for really hot days. Sometimes I will pour cool water on it at half time to help the cooling effect. You have to remember though that this chill effect only lasts about 20mins and though you may feel warmer once the chill effect wears off, the HyperKewl garment is still cooling you to a temperature below the ambient temperature.

HyperKewl garments are technical garments and should be managed as such. They are tools that can help to keep you comfortable and safe like shinguards or hard hats.

Sports Medicine has struggled for years trying to find a way to cool athletes while they warm up, during competition and after competing. Many studies have proven that pre-cooling and post cooling during competition improves performance (more to follow during our Cool Pax discussion). No one has been able to test the effects of cooling during the competition, until now. The first study we know of was done by Dr. Thijs Eijsvogels of the Department of Physiology at Radboud University in The Netherlands. This study found that cooling during competition using our HyperKewl Ultra Vest kept the skin cooler and the athlete more comfortable and alert. Further studies that combine the use of our HyperKewl and Cool Pax products for pre, during and post cooling are being prepared at Roehampton University in the United Kingdom. While HyperKewl is an ideal solution for cooling during the event, it can be used for pre and post cooling. However, we advocate the use of our Cool Pax Phase Change products for pre and post cooling.

In the Industrial Safety world, Heat Stress Management has been an issue for several years. OSHA and NIOSH have always advocated personal hydration, shade and rest as the best methods to avoid heat stress. These are all critical components in the battle against heat stress, but now the everyday construction worker can add a cooling vest to his arsenal helping maintain his health and productivity. Productivity is an important issue that can mean billions of dollars in savings or losses. In a Heat Stress study conducted in Australia (Extreme heat poses a billion-dollar threat to Australia’s Economy , it was estimated that $6.9 billion in lost productivity was due to heat stress and heat stress symptoms. The current population of Australia is just under 24 million. The US population is just over 300 million or 12 times that of Australia. The implications for productivity losses in the US due to heat stress and its symptoms are staggering and its only getting hotter.

Conclusion
In my introductory blog that started the series I mentioned,

Well, stopping what you are doing is not always an option when trying to avoid heat stress and heat stroke. Projects must be completed on time, productivity must be maintained, and the game must go on.

Being able to better manage heat stress keeps you healthier, more competitive and more productive. Failing to manage heat stress costs you your health and money. When there are options to Beat the Heat, why not use them. Afterall, anybody can be hot, uncomfortable and unproductive.

Look to June 15th for further discussions regarding cooling using our Phase Change Cooling Technology Cool Pax.

Ioannis Anastasakis
President
TechNiche International
www.techniche-intl.com

TechNiche International, keeping you comfortable at work, rest or play!!