Strategies to combat heat strain during and after firefighting

The use of phase change cool vests during firefighting and the efficacy of 20 min cold water hand immersion following such activity was investigated. Core temperature was unaffected by cool vest wear, as was skin temperature, sweat rate and heart rate, and cannot be recommended for use. There was a trend for core temperature decline to be accelerated by hand immersion after 10 min, but this trend disappeared after 20 min. Hand immersion had no substantive effect on core temperature attenuation in firefighters who had partially removed their clothing, consumed cold water and sat in a cool and ventilated room.