Department of Health and Human Performance Faculty Articles

Title

Assessing a Monitoring Scale of Physiological Health and Risk Assessment Among Those Exposed to Heated Environments: A Brief Report

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

Background: Prevention of heat illness is of considerable medical interest within the field of occupational work. There are many established methods of perceptual health assessment; however, many are rather unpractical and timely. The objective was to improve the practicality and timeliness of perceptual physiological monitoring; a Heat Thermal Sensation scale has been developed. The usefulness of the scale was assessed on its ability to monitor physiological variable. Materials and Methods: Ten apparently healthy individuals performed physically exerting activity while exposed to 37 °C. Sensation and physiology were measured throughout. Results: The perceptual monitoring scale demonstrated weak positive correlations with human physiological variables including cardiorespiratory stresses. It demonstrated no correlation with thermoregulation stress. Conclusion: The scale needs further development to better improve heat illness practices to those commonly exposed in extreme heat during occupational work.

Publication Title

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Volume

12

Issue

1

ISSN

2327-2937

Link to Full Text

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