Athlete deaths from heat exposure are on the rise. Warming summers have been accompanied by weekly reports of athletes young and old collapsing from severe heat-induced illness. Military training units struggle to keep soldiers healthy while preparing them for the grueling heat of Iraq and Afghanistan. OSHA is campaigning to prevent heat illness in outdoor workers and reports that every year thousands of workers become sick working in the heat, and some even die. In every instance, accurate and localized measurement of heat stress conditions is a key component of a heat illness prevention plan. The Kestrel 4400 Heat Stress Tracker, new from NK, answers this need.
Human heat stress results from a combination of many environmental factors – air temperature and humidity along with radiant heat from the sun and surfaces, balanced by the cooling effect of breezes or air flow. Anyone who has stood under welcome shade adjacent to a sizzling parking lot understands that these conditions must be evaluated exactly where peoples’ activities are taking place. The most common composite measurement used to determine appropriate exposure to heat stress conditions is Wet Bulb Globe Temperature or “WBGT.” The American College of Sports Medicine, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, and the US Military all have published threshold limit values (TLV’s) or reference guidelines for activity levels and hydration based on WBGT, clothing levels and acclimatization of participants.
Until now, most accurate WBGT measurement tools were large, cumbersome to use (requiring the transport of distilled water along with the measurement unit) and expensive. The Kestrel 4400 Pocket Heat Stress Tracker fits in a pocket or small belt carrying case and provides accurate waterless WBGT measurements within minutes of exposure to the air. It is also affordably priced, starting at $849, placing it within the reach of any athletic team, school, military unit or workplace. The included Kestrel Vane Mount accessory allows the user to mount the Kestrel 4400 Heat Stress Tracker on a tripod for longer-term monitoring and logging of heat stress conditions, and optional Bluetooth® wireless data transfer enables transfer of the logged conditions to a computer or smart phone for later documentation.
The Kestrel 4400 also displays thermal work limit (“TWL”), another recognized composite heat stress prediction tool. For both WBGT and TWL, the Kestrel 4400 provides on-screen alarms when conditions enter the caution and danger zones, providing clear and immediate guidance that heat illness prevention steps must be taken. Clothing levels can also be customized, making the Kestrel 4400 particularly useful in activities requiring heavy protective gear which worsens heat stress. The Kestrel 4400 also displays natural wet bulb temperature, black globe temperature, and mean radiant temperature (“MRT”).
