Background: Heat stress is a threat for health and safety in workplaces. The aim of this study was to examine the cooling ability of the Iranian evaporative vest in hot and dry conditions in a climatic chamber.
Method: This interventional study was conducted on 12 male students in 2013. Heat strain score index, skin temperature, oral temperature and heartbeat in two phases of with and without wearing cold vest were measured in two intensity different activities on a treadmill in a climatic chamber (mean temperature 38.8ºC, relative humidity 32.9% and WBGT 29.9ºC). Data were analyzed using t-test and repeated measures test.
Results: In two trials with and without wearing the evaporative cooling vest, the skin mean temperature differed significantly but heat strain score, heartbeat rate and oral temperature in both activities did not show a significant difference.
Conclusion: The results showed that Iranian evaporative cooling vest is effective in reducing skin temperature, in light and moderate activities, in hot and dry conditions; but it has a little effect on oral temperature, heart rate and heat strain score index
