| Author: Ken Parsons |
| InfoShare Partner: Umeå Centre for Global Health Research |
| Publication Date: November 2009 |
| Type of Document: Article/Report/Paper |
| Topics: Environment and health/population |
| Region: Global |
| Language: English |
| Additional information: The principles behind how people respond to heat and conditions which would influence health, comfort and human performance have been extensively studied and are well understood (1). To avoid unacceptable heat strain in specific populations and in specific contexts requires the application of those principles into guidelines and heat management systems. How to do that is not well understood.
Heat stress is determined by the metabolic heat production of the body, which increases with level of activity (even at rest a person produces around 100 W of heat) and the ability to lose heat to the environment so that heat stored in the body does not raise body temperature to unacceptable levels. Clothing will restrict heat loss (or gain) between the skin and the environment, which is determined by air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity and air velocity. It is the interaction and combined effect of these six factors that determines the level of heat stress.
Heat strain is a consequence of the response of the body to heat stress. Increased heart rate and blood flow to the skin, and sweating can cause illness and death in vulnerable people even when internal body temperatures are at what would normally be considered to be acceptable levels. Sweating can lead to dehydration and as well as increased body temperature can lead to collapse, heat stroke and death.
This paper provides a summary of physiological responses to heat and presents methods for reducing heat strain. The aim of the paper is to consider the application of knowledge of human response to heat, to provide methods for maintaining the health, comfort and productivity of people during a prolonged and atypical period of hot weather (a heat wave). |
| File Size: 2 KB |
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The aim of this paper is to summarise what is known about human response to heat and to use this knowledge to provide guidance on how to maintain the health, comfort and performance of people in heat waves.
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