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Thermal Stress and the Human Response to Thermal Stress with Litter Position on the C-141 Starlifter and C-17 Globemaster II.

PB2013101716

Publication Date	2005
Personal Author	Bridges, E. J.
Page Count	74
Abstract	This report summarizes three studies that (1) describe the thermal response and the human response to the thermal environment onboard the C-141 and C-17 cargo aircraft when configured for aeromedical transport, (2) the efficacy of standard care (wool blankets), a baffled reflective blanket (Blizzard Blanket) and a portable intravenous fluid warmer (Thermal Angel) in preventing hypothermia in an animal model of hemorrhagic shock and hypothermia and (3) the efficacy of the ChillBuster warming blanket, ChillBuster with a reflective blanket, and two wool blankets in a similar animal model. Results: Study 1. Temperature variability is aircraft-specific. On the C-141 and the C-17 there was a thermal gradient (warmer to cooler) front to back and top to bottom. Positioning against the bulkhead and in the back of the aircraft on the C-141 caused the greatest thermal stress, as indicated by a decrease in exposed skin temperature and increased forearm-finger temperature difference (indicator of thermoregulatory vasoconstriction). Similar environmental conditions were observed on the C-17, with the greatest thermal stress in the back litter tiers. Study 2. Wools blankets did not prevent hypothermia, the Blizzard Blanket alone decreased the severity of hypothermia, but did not prevent it. The Thermal Angel plus Blizzard Blanket combination prevented hypothermia. The Thermal Angel is useful for bolus administration when electricity is limited; its military field use is constrained by battery weight and life. Study 3. The Chillbuster/reflective blanket group was significantly warmer than either the Chillbuster-only or the wool blanket groups (p < .01). After 6 hours of cold exposure, the Chillbuster/reflective blanket group remained warm whereas the Chillbuster-only and the wool blanket groups developed mild hypothermia. Use of the combined warming and reflective blankets was effective in preventing hypothermia over 6 hours and is feasible in a deployed military environment.
Keywords	Thermal stresses Humans Response(Biology) Transport aircraft Animal model Blankets Cargo aircraft Exposure(Physiology) Hypothermia Skin(Anatomy) Temperature gradients C-141 Starlifter C-17 Globemaster II
Source Agency	TriService Nursing Research Program/Uniform Services Univ. of the Health Sciences
Corporate Authors	TriService Nursing Research Program, Bethesda, MD.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	201303

Thermal Stress and the Human Response to Thermal Stress with Litter Position on the C-141 Starlifter and C-17 Globemaster II.

Thermal Stress and the Human Response to Thermal Stress with Litter Position on the C-141 Starlifter and C-17 Globemaster II.
PB2013101716

Publication Date	2005
Personal Author	Bridges, E. J.
Page Count	74
Abstract	This report summarizes three studies that (1) describe the thermal response and the human response to the thermal environment onboard the C-141 and C-17 cargo aircraft when configured for aeromedical transport, (2) the efficacy of standard care (wool blankets), a baffled reflective blanket (Blizzard Blanket) and a portable intravenous fluid warmer (Thermal Angel) in preventing hypothermia in an animal model of hemorrhagic shock and hypothermia and (3) the efficacy of the ChillBuster warming blanket, ChillBuster with a reflective blanket, and two wool blankets in a similar animal model. Results: Study 1. Temperature variability is aircraft-specific. On the C-141 and the C-17 there was a thermal gradient (warmer to cooler) front to back and top to bottom. Positioning against the bulkhead and in the back of the aircraft on the C-141 caused the greatest thermal stress, as indicated by a decrease in exposed skin temperature and increased forearm-finger temperature difference (indicator of thermoregulatory vasoconstriction). Similar environmental conditions were observed on the C-17, with the greatest thermal stress in the back litter tiers. Study 2. Wools blankets did not prevent hypothermia, the Blizzard Blanket alone decreased the severity of hypothermia, but did not prevent it. The Thermal Angel plus Blizzard Blanket combination prevented hypothermia. The Thermal Angel is useful for bolus administration when electricity is limited; its military field use is constrained by battery weight and life. Study 3. The Chillbuster/reflective blanket group was significantly warmer than either the Chillbuster-only or the wool blanket groups (p < .01). After 6 hours of cold exposure, the Chillbuster/reflective blanket group remained warm whereas the Chillbuster-only and the wool blanket groups developed mild hypothermia. Use of the combined warming and reflective blankets was effective in preventing hypothermia over 6 hours and is feasible in a deployed military environment.
Keywords	Thermal stresses Humans Response(Biology) Transport aircraft Animal model Blankets Cargo aircraft Exposure(Physiology) Hypothermia Skin(Anatomy) Temperature gradients C-141 Starlifter C-17 Globemaster II
Source Agency	TriService Nursing Research Program/Uniform Services Univ. of the Health Sciences
Corporate Authors	TriService Nursing Research Program, Bethesda, MD.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	201303