scholarly journals Research about How to Improve Heat Stress in Health Care Workers with Cover-up Type Protective Clothing-Effects of Local Torso Cooling on Human Body-

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Setuko WATABE ◽  
Megumi OHGAMA ◽  
Midori TSUKAKOSI
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Cover Up

Physiological Evaluation of Cooling Devices in Conjunction With Personal Protective Ensembles Recommended for Use in West Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 573-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Quinn ◽  
Jung-Hyun Kim ◽  
Amanda Strauch ◽  
Tianzhou Wu ◽  
Jeffery Powell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Subjective Responses ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Cooling Devices ◽  
Subjective Measurements ◽  
Physiological Evaluation ◽  
Stabilization Period

AbstractObjectiveCooling devices (CDs) worn under personal protective equipment (PPE) can alleviate some of the heat stress faced by health care workers responding to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.MethodsSix healthy, young individuals were tested while wearing 4 different CDs or no cooling (control) under PPE in an environmental chamber (32°C/92% relative humidity) while walking (3 METs, 2.5 mph, 0% grade) on a treadmill for 60 minutes. Exercise was preceded by a 15-minute stabilization period and a 15-minute donning period.ResultsThe control condition resulted in a significantly higher rectal temperature (Tre) at the end of the exercise than did all CD conditions (CD1,P=0.004; CD2,P=0.01; CD3,P=0.000; CD4,P=0.000) with CD1 and CD2 resulting in a higher Trethan CD3 and CD4 (P<0.05). The control condition resulted in a higher heart rate (HR) at the end of exercise than did the CD3 (P=0.01) and CD4 (P=0.009) conditions, whereas the HR of the CD1 and CD2 conditions was higher than that of the CD3 and CD4 conditions (P<0.05). Weight loss in the control condition was higher than in the CD3 (P=0.003) and CD4 (P=0.01) conditions. Significant differences in subjective measurements of thermal stress were found across conditions and time.ConclusionsUse of CDs can be advantageous in decreasing the negative physiological and subjective responses to the heat stress encountered by health care workers wearing PPE in hot and humid environments. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:573–579)

scholarly journals Heat Stress and PPE during COVID-19: Impact on health care workers' performance, safety and well-being in NHS settings.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Lee Davey ◽  
Ben James Lee ◽  
Timothy Robbins ◽  
Harpal Randeva ◽  
Charles Doug Thake
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Facial Region ◽  
Care Workers

Background: The impermeable nature of PPE worn by health care workers (HCWs) during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic can potentiate heat stress which may negatively impact the performance, safety and well-being of HCWs. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate perceived levels of heat stress and its consequences in HCWs required to wear PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Method: An anonymous online survey was distributed to HCWs required to wear Type 1 or 2 PPE in NHS settings to evaluate the perceived impact of PPE on: (1) physical and cognitive performance; (2) heat stress and heat-related symptoms; (3) frequency of removing PPE due to discomfort caused by heat stress; and (4) general working-life and well-being. Results: The survey received 224 responses from 192 (85.7%) women and 32 (14.3%) men. Even though 71.9% of respondents wore the less thermally challenging PPE (i.e. Type 2), a median of 3 (IQR: 2,5) heat-related symptoms were reported including syncope (7.7%). A median of 1 (IQR: 0-3) cognitive task was adversely affected with attentional focus being the most affected. To relieve discomfort, 32.6% reported removing PPE on five or more occasions in a shift. Ninety two percent reported PPE made their job more difficult and 76.2% advised that physical performance was impaired. Respondents also highlighted concerns of dermatitis and pressure sores in the facial region (22.3%) amongst other factors. Conclusion: Heat stress experienced when PPE is worn negatively impacts the performance, safety and well-being of HCWs and patients. Therefore, modification to current working practices and current design of PPE is urgently required to improve HCWs resilience to pandemics of infectious diseases. Results suggest modifications to the design of the protective face mask and strict enforcement of specific work/rest ratios to limit the duration of PPE use would be immediate impactful interventions.

scholarly journals Effective personal protective clothing for health care workers attending patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas K.S Wong ◽  
Joanne W.Y Chung ◽  
Y Li ◽  
Wai F Chan ◽  
Patricia T.Y Ching ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Care Workers

Organizational Factors and Health Care Workers' Physical Safety

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Lipscomb ◽  
Jeanne Geiger-Brown ◽  
Katherine McPhaul ◽  
Karen Calabro
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Care Workers
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