Citation

Thornton R, Brown GA, Redman PJ. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 1985; 56(3): 208-211.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Aerospace Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3985899

Abstract

The thermal strain imposed on helicopter aircrew by chemical protective (NBC) clothing in summer in Germany has been assessed in a laboratory simulation. The environmental conditions used were dry bulb temperature 35 degrees C, wet bulb temperature 19 degrees C and a wind speed of 2.0 m X s-1. The NBC equipment imposed a significant thermal strain on the crewman when compared with standard summer flying clothing, but not on the pilot whose tasks involve lower energy expenditures. Deep body temperature exceeded 37.6 degrees C and a significant degree of dehydration (1% of body weight) also occurred, despite the availability of a drinking facility in the respirator. It is recommended that the only practical way of preventing thermal strain in helicopter crewmen under NBC conditions is by providing personal conditioning.

Language: en