Effect of head or neck cooling used with a liquid-conditioned vest during simulated aircraft sorties.

The effectiveness of head or neck cooling in reducing head sweating and increasing subject comfort when used in conjunction with a liquid-conditioned vest during simulated sorties in the European Fighter Aircraft was investigated. Six subjects underwent three 2-h exposures at 40 degrees C wearing Aircrew Chemical Defence clothing and one of three combinations of liquid-conditioned garments. In all three exposures, a liquid-conditioned vest was worn and, in two exposures, either a head-cooling cowl or a neck-cooling collar was worn in addition to the vest. All six subjects reported increased comfort and decreased head sweating with head cooling, a result supported by the data collected.