The technology is behind the protective clothing to astronauts going to space and indulging in spacewalks in sunlight is now forming as the basis to design protective clothing for fire fighters and steel workers who need to work in extreme heat and dangerous circumstances.
This project nicknamed as “safe cool” will look at distinct protective material that encompasses an inbuilt cooling system, with a technology akin to space suits used by astronauts. According to Stefano Carosio from the Italian company D'Appolonia, Project Manager for the Safe&Cool Project, “The existing protective clothing used while performing physically demanding work in hot conditions can, in many cases, hinder workers' ability to remain cool.”Nearly 1500 heat strokes are reported in Europe and this happens due to the inability to cast out excess heat and moisture through the clothing. Many times these heat strokes can be fatal unless they receive immediate medical attention.
Agnieszka Kurchewska, from the Polish Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute has said that "Our objective, through the Safe&Cool project, is to develop a higher quality thermal and moisture management layer for protective clothing that complies with EU directives. If used for protective clothing this new material will make the working environment safer and better through reducing the risk of heat stress and heat strokes for those operating in what can be dangerous and often stressful jobs."
