HUMAN PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO EXTREMITY AND BODY COOLING
Abstract
A study of the critical regions of the body which must be protected with insulation against a cold stress made it necessary to ascertain the response of the extremities as opposed to the rest of the body when subjected to a cold environment. Five subjects at rest were exposed to a temperature of -18 C in an environmental chamber while wearing three different clothing configurations. The average subject tolerance time -- defined as when any skin site reached 4 C or 0 C -- while wearing only thermistor underwear and having the body heavily insulated while the extremities were bare was 8 minutes. The average subject tolerance time with the extremities heavily insulated and wearing only the thermistor underwear was 83 minutes. The results illustrate the temperature sensitivity of the extremities and their tolerance limitations in extreme cold environments. A large quantity of insulation on the body (excluding the extremities) does not ameliorate tolerance despite a warm core temperature. If the extremities are adequately protected, however, the rest of the body with the possible exception of the ears is able to tolerate a low environmental temperature for extended periods of time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0275966
Entities
People
- James H. Veghte