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During August, 2002, tests were conducted at Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. Maj. D.L. St.
Armand and several other investigators tested the use of Soldiermist systems in training areas of high physical activity as well as in shaded areas where troops were assembled for other instruction.
The hypothesis of this scientific inquiry was:
INTRODUCTION
An extreme hot weather training environment can cause many heat stress injuries along with decreasing the amount of training time allowed to meet the training standard due to the interruption
of the work rest cycles. The purpose of this study was conducted to see the benefits of utilizing Soldier's Mist and its effect on the Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index* in extremely hot
training environments, thus increasing the work/training times and decreasing the resting times.
This study examined the utilization of Soldier's Misters and their effects in four simulated training areas.
Direct sunlight with the use of mist verses no mist, in the shade with the use of mist verses no mist and the effect mist had on the Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index in both direct sunlight and shade.
*The WBGT Index is computed from readings of (1) a stationary wet bulb thermometer exposed to the sun and to the prevailing wind, (2) a six inch black globe thermometer similarly exposed, and (3) a dry
bulb thermometer shielded from the direct rays of the sun.
All readings are taken at a location representative of the conditions to which men are exposed. The wet
bulb and globe thermometers are suspended in the sun at a height of four feet above ground. A period of at least 20 minutes after deploying the apparatus elapses before readings are taken.
The significance of the investigation was stated as such:
An extreme hot weather training environment can cause many heat stress injuries along with decreasing the amount of training time allowed to meet the training standard due to the
interruption of the work rest cycles.
An example can be viewed when the wet-bulb Globe temperature (WBGT) index reaches
greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the work rest cycle is 10 minutes of hard work with a required 50 minutes of rest.
The military relevance is that by lowering the heat index in an extreme hot weather
environment will decrease the number of heat stress injuries and increase the training time based on the WBGT index.
CONTINUE TO RESULTS
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