Troops in Iraq Stay Cool During Searing Summer Temperatures

Summertime in Iraq is scorching hot, regular day timeto quickly cool themselves when they return to
temperatures reach in excess of 120ºF. It iscamp. The cooling vests will not only help to prevent
difficult to imagine living in temperatures so extreme.heat stress, but keeping cool will also help to improve
Thousands of troops stationed in Iraq not only havethe soldiers concentration and mental alertness in the
to deal with these extreme conditions; they have tostifling summer heat.
do it wearing a military uniform, body armor andArctic Heat is now the preferred supplier of "Cooling
other equipment. These troops are at high risk ofProducts" to the Australia Army and their troops are
suffering from related heat illnesses, such as mildnow being issued with the cool vest during training
heat stress or a fatal heat stroke.exercises for deployment in the Middle East region.
Dehydration is a major health issue, the body sweats"We have been selling large numbers of cooling vests
in an attempt to keep the body's core temperatureto the parents of US soldiers stationed in Iraq who
stable, but in very high temperatures the body willhave been sending over the cool vests to family
sweat at a rate higher than fluid can be replaced,stationed in Iraq, or otherwise we receive email
creating a dangerous situation. Heat stress has fiveorders and ship directly to the soldiers." says Dr John
major symptoms: weakness, confusion, vomitingSurie, President of Arctic Heat USA.
diarrhea, headache/visual disturbance and poorThe Arctic Heat Cooling Vests were used by US
co-ordination. Working in Iraq is dangerous enoughOlympic teams at the Athens Olympics, and are now
without having to suffer from the symptoms of heatused by leading sports teams worldwide to improve
stress.performance.
One way to stay cool during the searing Iraqi heat isThe lightweight Arctic Heat Cooling vest uses a two
to use a cooling vest. Thousands of troops in Iraqstage cooling process. The vests contain a gel-like
from the Australian and US Military have started usingsubstance that can be frozen or chilled. The cooling
special desert colored Arctic Heat Cooling Vests. Thevests are manufactured using Woolmark's Sportwool,
lightweight cooling vest is used to keep troops coola special body cooling fabric which incorporates Vapor
while on their patrol rounds, when working aroundManagement Technology helping to wick moisture
their bases, to pre-cool them before their rounds andaway from the skin, allowing the wearer to keep dry.