What is a cooling vest, and why are over 2,500 Indian food delivery agents trying it amidst summer heat

The rising mercury is affecting every stratum of society. The e-commerce delivery workers, who have to work even in extreme heat, are the ones most affected. While from humanitarian perspective the best we can do is to offer them water and hydrating food at the doorstep, the real fight still continues on the two wheelers.

But finally, there seems to be a ray of hope, as Zomato has recently announced that over 2,500 delivery partners across more than 14 cities will be trying out cooling vests this summer. The move comes as many parts of the country are facing extreme heat and temperatures exceeding 40-45 degrees Celsius.

What is a cooling vest

Cooling vests are basically wearable jackets designed to help regulate body temperature in hot or high-stress environments.

They traditionally use different technologies to help reduce body temperature. As per experts, they mainly come in three types: evaporative cooling vests, phase change vests, and ice pack or gel vests. They are commonly used by athletes, construction workers, firefighters, and people exposed to high temperatures.

Why Indian delivery agents wearing cooling vests

According to Zomato's LinkedIn update, these vests use evaporative (PVA-based) cooling technology, are designed to perform in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, and provide relief for up to 4 hours.

They are also lightweight, anti-microbial and built to last two summers.As per the post, these vests are a result of joint efforts by Shell Foundation (Philanthropic Fundraising Services, London) and Trane Technologies' SPACES programme (Industrial Machinery Manufacturing, North Carolina) and is implemented by Intellcap. The post creative describes these vests as offering instant cooling and all-day comfort, built for everyday performance, and having a lightweight and breathable design.https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zomato_this-summer-2500-delivery-partners-in-more-activity-7451894967851163648-TBX9

What does the study say

According to a study titled, "Effectiveness and Acceptance of Cooling Vests Among Couriers in the Express Delivery Industry," cooling vests can be used as a personal protective measure to reduce physical stress in hot weather. They use active or passive cooling mechanisms to stabilize body temperature and prevent overheating.In the study, at least 5 courier drivers from express delivery services wore the hybrid cooling vest Bodycool Hybrid during work. To activate the vest, it was moistened with water and cooling packs were inserted. The ambient temperature was at least 25°C throughout the working hours. Comparative measurements without the cooling vest were conducted with the same couriers on days with similar temperatures. During the work shift, skin, and core body temperature as well as heart rate were continuously recorded.

Additionally, the distances and altitudes covered were tracked using the smartwatch's GPS.Image Courtesy: Google Gemini