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Research has shown that the Thermoblazer™ cooling vest can provide a significant advantage to athletes training and competing in hot environmental conditions if used properly. Below are some practical tips to help you Stay Cool, and get the most out of your Thermoblazer™ vest.

Guidelines for enhancing performance using the Thermoblazer™ vest

1. Ensure that the cryopaks are frozen solid before use. This generally requires 4-6 hours in a regular freezer. Try to have the cryopaks spread out in the freezer as this will shorten freezing time and ensure consistent freezing throughout all the packs.
2. If transporting Thermoblazer™ to a competition venue, store the cryopaks in a cooler during transport to ensure minimal melting and maximal cooling power upon arrival.
3. Velcro the cryopaks into the vest as follows:
   1. Large pack (6 pockets wide) on the back.
   2. Medium Packs (4 pockets wide) on each side of the chest
   3. Small Packs under arm-holes (optional for extra cooling power). There are extra cryopaks in the cooler bag that you can cut to size as required and extra velcro in the front pocket of the cooler bag.  

Front View	Back Inside View

1. Do not wear the vest directly in contact with the skin as you may cause skin damage and ice-burns. A light cotton t-shirt or team jersey is recommended as a barrier between your skin and the Thermoblazer™.
2. In the course of keeping you cool the cryopaks will melt during use as they cool you down. Their rate of melting depends primarily upon the exact environmental conditions and your exercise intensity. In resting conditions and a hot environment the cryopaks may last for 40-45 minutes. During intense exercise in very hot and humid conditions the cryopaks may need to be changed every 25 minutes. Have handy a spare set of frozen cryopaks to extend your cooling power.

Options for the use of the Thermoblazer™vest

1. Pre-cooling : Before Training and Competition. 

You should try to wear Thermoblazer™ for 40-60 minutes total time before and during your warm-up in order to cool skin temperature. Smaller individuals with lower levels of subcutaneous body fat or less muscle mass may not need to wear the vest for as long but 40 minutes is still suggested as a minimum. You may need to wear the vest during transport to the competition venue to ensure sufficient pre-cooling time. 

Some individuals feel uncomfortable as they begin to cool while wearing the vest. These feelings will largely disappear as soon as you begin more intense exercise (competition) and you will rapidly realise the benefits of pre-cooling. Nevertheless, it is important that you experiment and find the pre-cooling duration that works for you. As previously suggested 40 minutes is the recommended minimum.

2. During Training and Competition

For some events it may be possible to use Thermoblazer™ vests during competition. Athletes must evaluate whether they can wear a vest during competition and whether the coolant can be changed on a regular basis. If worn during competition, consideration must also be given to the trade-off between receiving cooling benefits from Thermoblazer™ or possible impairments in performance as a result of carrying an extra load.

Wearing the Thermoblazer™ vest during a training session may be beneficial in reducing sweat rate, dehydration and increases in body temperature. If performing multiple daily training sessions this could reduce residual fatigue and maintain the overall quality of your workouts.

3. After Training and Competition

Worn after exercise in the heat the Thermoblazer™ vest will bring your core and skin temperature down quickly and in the process decrease sweat rate and save valuable body fluid. You’ll feel better immediately! All of these factors will hasten your recovery and you’ll be ready to train and compete at a high level again much more quickly.

For further information, email: sleivert@shaw.ca