Arm Immersion Cooling System (AICS) For Mitigating Heat Stress : Low On Technology, High On Dividends

Dr PMP Singh; Dr MS Mustafa; Dr Nitin Kumar Sharma

Volume : IX, Issue : IV, April - 2020

Arm Immersion Cooling System (AICS) For Mitigating Heat Stress : Low On Technology, High On Dividends

Dr Pmp Singh, Dr Ms Mustafa, Dr Nitin Kumar Sharma

Abstract :

Background : Troops are at increased risk of suffering from heat stress during training. Active cooling using external cooling methods is preferred. Arm Immersion Cooling System (AICS) is a novel active cooling gadget, developed the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. Methods : AICS is based on the premise that immersion of extremities in water results in lowering of body temperature. Extremities act as heat sensors owing to their large surface area. The AICS is a portable trough filled with iced water, in which soldiers can immerse their arms. Immersion of arms increases heat extraction more than 20 times as compared to air. Results : AICS has been improvised to cut down the weight and improve portability. It has a height of 40 inches and can hold 20 gallons of water. It can be used by six persons at a time. It also has an in-built thermometer and a time table. Best cooling is obtained with water at 10�C. Conclusion: AICS is suitable for hot weather with high humidity. It may be placed at strategic locations during training events to prevent heat stress.