Law Enforcement Officers are among the most vulnerable to heat stress.
According to the NIH,
Heat is the primary weather-related cause of death in the United States. The estimated mean annual heat-related death toll in the U.S. is about 1500.Among the populations at an elevated risk for environmental heat exposure are individuals working in outdoor settings. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight combined with the effects of physical labor render many outdoor workers vulnerable. Use of protective clothing and equipment may further exacerbate workers’ risk by preventing the body from cooling.
National Institute of Health
The physical requirements of law enforcement and the protective equipment that the job requires combine to create a perfect storm of factors that can cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
So what can you do to prevent heat-related injury?
1. Hydrate.
Whoever coined the phrase “don’t sweat it” obviously wasn’t working up a sweat to start with. Sweat is key to keeping cool, and hydration keeps the sweat pumping.
The best way to beat the heat is to hydrate. Through perspiration (a.k.a. sweat), the human body does a pretty good job at thermoregulation. Your body cools itself with sweat thanks to evaporative cooling. The science behind evaporative cooling is that water must have heat applied to it to change from a liquid to a vapor. When evaporation occurs, this heat is taken from the water (sweat) that remains in the liquid state, resulting in a cooler liquid and a cooler you.
The whole process relies on replenishing the water lost through perspiration. OSHA guidelines recommend drinking small amounts of water often (before you become thirsty). Salt loss is somewhat related to dehydration, but this can mitigated with salty snacks or preferably with an electrolyte enriched sports drink.
A high-capacity hydration system is always a smart addition to your gear. Source Tactical’s Rider Low Profile Hydration System is a versatile option with a generous 3-liter capacity. It can be worn backpack style, quickly converted for direct armor attachment, inserted into a backpack or simply strapped to the back of a vehicle’s chair for easy access.
2. Skip the coffee. Yes, even iced coffee.
If you’re like me, you’d find it difficult to function without a regular supply of coffee. But beware of coffee’s dehydrating properties.
Let’s start with the obvious, coffee is most commonly a hot beverage. Drinking hot coffee can affect your internal temperature, but probably only minimally, especially in warm weather. The increased internal temperature from a hot cup of coffee is more or less offset by increased sweat. The result is dehydration.
Aha, but what about iced coffee or cold brew ?! It’s delicious, but it can also hasten dehydration. The caffeine in the cup of joe that keeps you going is a diuretic, which simply means that a cup of coffee depletes more fluid from your body than it provides.
If you’re going to drink coffee (whether it’s hot or cold), be sure to hydrate with water as well. Always, but especially in hot weather.
3. Wear lightweight, breathable clothing.
Breathable clothing maximizes your body’s ability to regulate itself, and lightweight fabrics provide less insulation so heat can easily escape. Modern materials and technology mean that public safety uniforms have never been more comfortable. The latest moisture-wicking fabrics keep you cool because the sweat evaporates faster and provides efficient evaporative cooling.
A good option for duty wear are Cross FX Uniform Shirts from Flying Cross. These feature built-in knit mesh stretch panels built into the underarm and through the shoulder blade for breathability. For casual duty, PROPPER’s I.C.E. Polo is built with fabric that dries 125% faster than cotton and 30% faster than traditional polyester, as well mesh underarm vents for added breathability. A MUST for hot weather.
4. Use a Body Armor cooling system.
By its very nature, ballistic armor is neither lightweight nor breathable. Yes, enormous advancements have been made to reduce armor’s weight, but it still amounts to wearing a thick layer of insulation.
There are however ways to mitigate this. For concealed armor, consider a ventilating layer. Products like Body Armor Vent allow continuous air flow between your torso and body armor to help keep you cool.
For more drastic measures, the Cool Cop Body Armor Air Conditioning System funnels cool air from your vehicle’s air conditioning vent directly to your body, helping to get the heat away from between your vest and undershirt quickly.
Check out our top picks to keep you comfortable this summer:
Take Care of Yourself
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are risks that shouldn’t be underestimated. Use common sense, stay hydrated and keep cool.
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