SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1992
STP19186S

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

Source

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.

Author Information

Endrusick, TL
Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
Santee, WR
Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
DiRaimo, DA
Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
Blanchard, LA
Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
Gonzalez, RR
Environmental Physiology & Medicine Directorate, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
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Details
Developed by Committee: F23
Pages: 544–556
DOI: 10.1520/STP19186S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5194-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1430-2