Cooling Vests Help Clinicians Treating COVID Patients

The vests were originally designed to aggressively cool elite athletes before or after physical exertion. Since COVID care involves long-term use during healthcare activities, the cooling power of the vests needed to be modified to work slower and longer. The vests, which are stored in a refrigerator prior to use, consist of 36 pockets that hold a phase change material in a thermoplastic polyurethane shell. Though a study found that the impact on the wearer’s core body temperature was minimal, nurses who wore the vests had lower heart rates during their shifts, suggesting they were more relaxed.