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Abstract
Bomb technicians perform their work while encapsulated in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) suits. Designed primarily for safety, these suits have an unintended consequence of impairing the body’s natural mechanisms for heat dissipation. Purpose: To quantify the heat strain encountered during an EOD operational scenario in the tropical north of Australia. Methods: All active police male bomb technicians, located in a tropical region of Australia (n=4, experience 7 ± 2.1 yrs, age 34 ± 2 yrs, height 182.3 ± 5.4 cm, body mass 95 ± 4 kg, VO2max 46 ± 5.7 ml . kg -1. min -1 ) undertook an operational scenario wearing the Med-Eng EOD 9 suit and helmet (~32 kg). The climatic conditions ranged between 27.1–31.8°C ambient temperature, 66-88% relative humidity, and 30.7-34.3°C wet bulb globe temperature. The scenario involved searching a two story non air-conditioned building for a target; carrying and positioning equipment for taking an X-ray; carrying and positioning equipment to disrupt the target; and finally clearing the site. Core temperature and heart rate were continuously monitored, and were used to calculate a physiological strain index (PSI). Urine specific gravity (USG) assessed hydration status and heat associated symptomology were also recorded. Results: The scenario was completed in 121 ± 22 mins (23.4 ± 0.4% work, 76.5 ± 0.4% rest/recovery). Maximum core temperature (38.4 ± 0.2°C), heart rate (173 ± 5.4 bpm, 94 ± 3.3% max), PSI (7.1 ± 0.4) and USG (1.031 ± 0.002) were all elevated after the simulated operation. Heat associated symptomology highlighted that moderate-severe levels of fatigue and thirst were universally experienced, muscle weakness and heat sensations experienced by 75%, and one bomb technician reported confusion and light-headedness. Conclusion: All bomb technicians demonstrated moderate-high levels of heat strain, evidenced by elevated heart rate, core body temperature and PSI. Severe levels of dehydration and noteworthy heat-related symptoms further highlight the risks to health and safety faced by bomb technicians operating in tropical locations.
Highlights
Bomb technicians have reported suffering severe symptoms of heat illness [1]
The climatic conditions during the scenario ranged between 27.1–31.8°C ambient temperature, 66-88% relative humidity, and 30.7-34.6°C wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT)
The physiological response to the training scenario is provided in figure 1 and table 1, while the heat associated symptomology is presented in table 2
Summary
Bomb technicians have reported suffering severe symptoms of heat illness [1]. Heat illness occurs when the body becomes unable to regulate internal body temperature, most commonly in response to extreme environmental conditions. Neurological symptoms reported by bomb technicians such as irrational behaviour, confusion and loss of consciousness [1], not fatal in themselves, could have significant implications in the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) setting. Wearing EOD personal protective equipment (PPE) creates a barrier between the skin surface and the environment creating a microenvironment [4]. Under such conditions, it is extremely difficult to effectively remove heat produced by the body during activity. The end consequence is a rapidly increasing core temperature occurring in the context of an environment that does not facilitate heat loss
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