SEDL / STP / STP1133-EB / STP19186S

Physiological Responses While Wearing Protective Footwear in a Cold-Wet Environment

Endrusick, TL
Research physical scientist, research physical scientist, research biomedical engineer, research biomedical engineer, and Chief, Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick,MA

Santee, WR
Research physical scientist, research physical scientist, research biomedical engineer, research biomedical engineer, and Chief, Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick,MA

DiRaimo, DA
Research physical scientist, research physical scientist, research biomedical engineer, research biomedical engineer, and Chief, Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick,MA

Blanchard, LA
Research physical scientist, research physical scientist, research biomedical engineer, research biomedical engineer, and Chief, Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick,MA

Gonzalez, RR
Research physical scientist, research physical scientist, research biomedical engineer, research biomedical engineer, and Chief, Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick,MA

Pages: 13    Published: Jan 1992

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Source: STP1133-EB

Abstract

As part of a continuing effort to improve U.S. Army combat clothing and equipment, four proposed Intermediate Cold-Wet Boots and the standard-issue U.S. Army Cold-Wet Vapor Barrier Boot were evaluated during a controlled chamber study to determine human physiological responses while sedentary and while performing intermittent exercise in simulated cold-wet conditions. The results showed that a dry, rubber, vapor-barrier boot provided increased foot protection while subjects were sedentary in a moderately cold environment. New leather footwear incorporating vapor-permeable, waterproof membranes were incapable of maintaining a dry interior after the boot had been subjected to a prolonged soak in shallow water. This moisture ingression increased boot weight and caused minor, albeit immobilizing injuries during intermittent exercise.

Keywords:
trenchfoot, non-freezing cold injury, protective footwear, cold-wet environment, endurance time, thermal resistance

Paper ID: STP19186S
Committee/Subcommittee: F23.20
DOI: 10.1520/STP19186S
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