'Cooling jackets' for forest frontline staff to combat extreme summer heat in Uttarakhand's Haldwani

The cooling jackets help maintain body temperature during extreme heat conditions reduce heat stress, fatigue, and dehydration risks enhance efficiency during forest fire control operations improve comfort, endurance, and alertness during field duties and support the health, safety, and morale of frontline forest personnel, he added.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the forest department, advanced ''cooling jackets'' have been introduced by Haldwani forest division for frontline forest staff and fire watchers working under extreme summer conditions, a senior official said on Friday. Forest frontline personnel play a crucial role in protecting forests, wildlife, and public safety and during the summer season, these personnel are required to work continuously in harsh and demanding environments, said Kundan Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Haldwani forest division. Fire watchers and field staff often operate for long hours in remote forest areas, directly exposed to scorching temperatures, smoke, radiant heat from active fires, and physically exhausting terrain, he said. ''Recognising these challenges and prioritising the welfare and safety of field personnel, Haldwani forest division has provided modern cooling jackets equipped with dual-fan air circulation technology and rechargeable battery support,'' Kumar said. These lightweight jackets, weighing around 350 grams, are designed to provide continuous airflow inside the vest, helping regulate body temperature and providing significant relief during prolonged outdoor duties,'' he said. This initiative assumes special significance as it is possibly the first such effort to introduce technology-based cooling wear for frontline staff and fire watchers, Kumar said. ''Whether engaged in fire suppression activities inside forests or manning roadside checkposts and barriers under scorching heat, they (frontline staff) remain continuously exposed to extreme temperatures,'' he said. This initiative to provide cooling jackets is an important step towards safeguarding their health, improving working conditions, and enhancing operational efficiency,'' said Kumar, a 2017-batch Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer. Temperatures in many forest areas frequently exceed 40–45 degrees Celsius during peak summer months, significantly increasing the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stress, and fatigue, he said. ''In remote forest locations, access to shade, cooling facilities, and immediate medical support is often limited, making working conditions even more challenging. Continuous exposure to extreme temperatures can adversely affect the health, alertness, endurance, and operational efficiency of personnel engaged in critical forest protection duties,'' Kumar said, citing difficult circumstances braved by these employees. The cooling jackets help maintain body temperature during extreme heat conditions; reduce heat stress, fatigue, and dehydration risks; enhance efficiency during forest fire control operations; improve comfort, endurance, and alertness during field duties; and support the health, safety, and morale of frontline forest personnel, he added. The jackets have ''built-in cooling fans for instant relief'', ''3-speed airflow control'', ''breathable, UV-resistant fabric'' and are ''long lasting'' -- up to eight hours of powerful airflow with the rechargeable battery, Kumar said.