DUTCH TELEVISION: HART VAN NEDERLAND

Special cooling vest against the heat for healthcare staff: 'I am less tired and sharper'

During the corona crisis, a lot is demanded from the healthcare staff and working in extreme conditions resembles top sport. Due to the protective clothing, it can get quite hot under the suits and there is a risk of overheating. This while keeping a cool head is important here.

In collaboration with TNO, the Radboud university medical center has started an investigation to relieve care staff during work. Research shows that the temperature under protective clothing can reach as much as 30 to 36 degrees. For these reasons, a new tool has been developed: a medical cooling vest.

A cooling vest was previously designed for elite athletes who need to perform during the Tokyo Olympics. The project was entitled "Thermo Tokyo". Researcher and physiologist Thijs Eijsvogels contributed to this and devoted himself to the medical cooling vest.

“The vest should not be as cool as that of the athletes, but it should cool enough to handle a three-hour shift. After a number of hours, the protective material must be changed. The cooling vests have a temperature of about 21 degrees, ”Eijsvogels tells Hart van Nederland.

Sharper, so more relaxed
Mike Zwartkruis is a nurse and tested one of the cooling vests: “During my shift I can get very hot in the protective clothing and you can sweat. I noticed a big difference when wearing it. I am less tired and sharper, which makes my services easier to get through. ”

The medical cooling vest is being further investigated by Radboud university medical center and TNO. After the study is completed and there are more positive results, use of the new tool will scale up. "The supplier can supply around ten thousand cooling vests in the short term."