April is here, May is right around the corner (no joke), and summer is not far behind. Keeping cool on the job site is imperative, so if you have not already done so, you will have to break out your cooling gear to handle higher temporary workers and the hazard of workplace heat stress soon. But the innovative cooling PPE solutions in our Chill-Its® Cooling Line can’t help you do your job unless they’re activated to do theirs. Fortunately, activation is like washing your hair: rinse and repeat. Though some products in the line may look similar, they cool using different technologies and, as a result, are activated differently, so we are breaking it down for you…
Polymers
A very traditional and effective cooling technology, polymers use non-toxic, super-absorbent acrylic polymer crystals to retain water and provide cooling relief. Place a polymer product in a sink, bucket, or cooler of ice water to activate it. Let it sit and soak for 2-5 minutes or until plump.
PVA
This material uses a unique, hyper-evaporative polyvinyl acetate (PVA) material that retains water while remaining damp to the touch. These products are appealing because they are less bulky, activate quickly, and leave no sticky residue. Hold a PVA product under water for about a minute or until fully saturated to activate it. Twirl it a few times for up to four hours of cooling relief.
Microfiber
A lightweight, woven material that wicks away sweat, this technology is soft, machine-washable, and uses a 50+ UPF treatment to protect wearers from the sun’s harmful UV rays. To activate, wet the product. Then, wave, twirl, or shake it to accelerate airflow and start the activation process. Cooling relief should last up to two-and-a-half hours.
Once activated, place Chill-Its® products around the head or neck to regulate core body temperature since these areas contain large blood vessels near the skin’s surface. Temperature regulation and enough water, rest, and shade, rest will be critical to beat the heat.
This blog post was created in cooperation with Ergodyne, maker of Tenacious Work Gear®. Acme Tools is a proud distributor of Ergodyne products and supports its blog.
We would love to hear how you plan to keep cool this summer. Tag us with #DoYourBestWork on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
