Current and future cooling technologies used in preventing heat illness and improving work capacity for battlefield soldiers: Review of the literature

Objective: The goals were to review the effectiveness of current cooling technologies used on the battlefield to reduce or to prevent heat illness in soldiers and to discuss possible alternative or improved cooling methods. Methods: A search of the literature for 1990-2007 was performed by using the Air Force Institute of Technology and Air Force Research Laboratory search engines. Results: Several current cooling technologies are modestly effective in attenuating brain and core body temperatures, but the cooling effects are not sustained and the devices present operational problems. This review indicates that some current cooling devices are effective in lowering perceived efforts and lengthening maximal exercise time but are incompatible with current demands. Conclusions: Many of the cooling methods and devices detailed in the literature are impractical for use in the field. Future research should focus on cooling technologies that are practical in the battlefield and have sustainable cooling effects.