Real-Time Physiological Monitoring While Encapsulated in Personal Protective Equipment

Heat strain was monitored in real-time in soldiers performing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) training.  Wearable physiological status monitoring (PSM) systems (EQ-02; Hidalgo, Ltd, Swavesey, Cambridge, UK) were evaluated by nine soldiers from a Civil Support Team – Weapons of Mass Destruction (CST-WMD) team (age, 27.3±4.9 (SD) y; wt, 84.5±15.1 kg; ht, 178.1±10.1 cm).  Seven of these soldiers wore the PSM system during CBRN training and provided subjective feedback regarding the systems utility; two soldiers observed the training exercise and commented on the utility of the PSM system. During CBRN training, participants marched ~1600 m in 45 min while wearing Level A CBRN personal protective equipment (PPE).  A 0-to-10 Physiological Strain Index, i.e., a 0-to-10 index of thermal-work strain, was calculated from estimated core temperature and measured heart rate.  Individual PSI levels varied, with three individuals at a PSI > 8 (high thermal-work strain) and four individuals at a PSI < 8 (moderate strain).  Real-time PSI levels corresponded to the subjective feelings of thermal strain reported by the test volunteers.  In addition, the CST-WMD soldiers reported that real-time PSI information could be used to improve work performance and decrease the likelihood of experiencing heat illness during CBRN missions.

[1]  Shyamal Patel,et al.  A review of wearable sensors and systems with application in rehabilitation , 2012, Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

[2]  T E Bernard,et al.  Rationale for a personal monitor for heat strain. , 1994, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[3]  K. Kraning,et al.  A mechanistic computer simulation of human work in heat that accounts for physical and physiological effects of clothing, aerobic fitness, and progressive dehydration , 1997 .

[4]  Mark J. Buller,et al.  Individualized Short-Term Core Temperature Prediction in Humans Using Biomathematical Models , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[5]  Adam W Potter,et al.  Technology-Assisted Feedback for Motor Learning: A Brief Review , 2013 .

[6]  L. Berglund,et al.  Assessment of Male Anthropometric Trends and the Effects on Thermal Regulatory Models , 2007 .

[7]  K B Pandolf,et al.  A physiological strain index to evaluate heat stress. , 1998, American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology.

[8]  Gregory T. A. Kovacs,et al.  A multiparameter wearable physiologic monitoring system for space and terrestrial applications , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine.

[9]  William J. Tharion,et al.  Acceptability and Usability of an Ambulatory Health Monitoring System for Use by Military Personnel , 2013 .

[10]  Mark J. Buller,et al.  A Real-Time Algorithm for Predicting Core Temperature in Humans , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine.

[11]  D L Smith,et al.  Perceptual and physiological heat strain: Examination in firefighters in laboratory- and field-based studies , 2009, Ergonomics.