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Background: Health agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, recommend that heat-vulnerable older adults without home air-conditioning should visit cooling centers or other air-conditioned locations (e.g., a shopping mall) during heat waves. However, experimental evidence supporting the effectiveness of brief air-conditioning is lacking. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether brief exposure to an air-conditioned environment, as experienced in a cooling center, was effective for limiting physiological strain in older adults during a daylong laboratory-based heat wave simulation. Methods: Forty adults 64-79 years of age underwent a 9-h simulated heat wave (heat index: 37[degrees]C) with (cooling group, n = 20) or without (control group, n = 20) a cooling intervention consisting of 2-h rest in an air-conditioned room (~ 23[degrees]C, hours 5-6). Core and skin temperatures, whole-body heat exchange and storage, cardiovascular function, and circulating markers of acute inflammation were assessed. Results: Core temperature was 0.8[degrees]C (95% CI: 0.6, 0.9) lower in the cooling group compared with the control group at the end of the cooling intervention (p < 0.001; hour 6), and it remained 0.3[degrees]C (95% CI: 0.2, 0.4) lower an hour after returning to the heat (p < 0.001; hour 7). Despite this, core temperatures in each group were statistically equivalent at hours 8 and 9, within [+ or -] 0.3[degrees]C (p [less than or equal to] 0.005). Cooling also acutely reduced demand on the heart and improved indices of cardiovascular autonomic function (p [less than or equal to] 0.021); however, these outcomes were not different between groups at the end of exposure (p [greater than or equal to] 0.58). Discussion: Brief air-conditioning exposure during a simulated heat wave caused a robust but transient reduction in core temperature and cardiovascular strain. These findings provide important experimental support for national and international guidance that cooling centers are effective for limiting physiological strain during heat waves. However, they also show that the physiological impacts of brief cooling are temporary, a factor that has not been considered in guidance issued by health agencies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11651, Introduction The planet is warming at an unprecedented rate, (1) giving rise to more frequent and severe heat waves and increasing yearly heat-related fatalities. (2) Older adults ([greater than or [...]

Byline: S. Parameswarappa, J. Narayana A research study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of cool coat in reducing heat strain among workers exposed to heat in a steel plant [...]

The best practice for identifying the inherent risks of exertional heat illnesses (EHI) associated with physical activity in the heat is provided for safe recovery and return to play. It is recommended that greater attention and continued observation is required for high risk EHI athletes to prevent and reduce EHI.

Muscle cramps due to extensive sweat loss and exertional heat cramps are discussed. It is suggested that exertional heat cramps can be prevented with appropriate fluid and salt intake.

Many public health impacts have been predicted for climate change, but there has been relatively little exploration of ways to minimize the risks and develop long-term adaptation strategies. A new [...]