Jay H' Heaney, M'A'

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THE USE OF HEAT TOLERANCE TESTING FOR NAVY AND
MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL

• Jay H. Heaney, M.A.
• Naval Health Research Center
• Warfighter Performance Department
• email jay.heaney_at_med.navy.mil

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NHRC
Within the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
(BUMED), NHRC is the main Navy Medical RD
laboratory for human performance research of Navy
and Marine Corps personnel.
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Heat Tolerance Testing in the Navy

• HTTs have been conducted to support
• SPECWAR BUDs (training) and SEALs (MOS)
• PPE related events
• Physical Evaluation Board

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SPECWAR Heat Injury / HTT Policy

• BUDs
• Heat injury occurs prior to hell week med
  drop
• Heat injury occurs post hell week return to
  training
• EOD/Special Boats
• If candidate has a prior heat injury, a negative
  HTT is required

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HTT Protocol

• Based on IDF protocol (Shapiro, Epstein, Moran)
• Dry Bulb 40C/104F - Relative Humidity
  40
• 120 min treadmill walk at 3.2mph / 4 grade
• Core Temperature 38.6C/101.5F
• Heart Rate 160 bpm

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NHRC Heat Tolerance Testing

• NHRC has conducted 38 HTTs on Navy (n33) and
  Marine Corps (n5) personnel.
• 27 Negative tests
• 11 Positive tests

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Return to Duty / Training

• BUDs 22 HTTs
• 16 pass (return to training) / 6 fail (med drop)
• 8 of 16 became SEALS 5 dropped 3 no data
• SEALs/EOD
• 4 pass (return to duty-deployed) / 1 fail (EOD
  candidate)
• MOPP clothing related 2 pass (return to duty)
• PEB 1 pass (return to duty) / 1 fail
  (separated)

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HTT Positive / Negative Results
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HTT 2 years apart / BUDs - EOD
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HTT 4 months apart / SEAL
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HTT 3 months apart / BUDs-EOD
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HTT 9 months apart / SEAL
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HTT 10 months apart / SEAL
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Field Heat Tolerance Test

• Modified Heat Tolerance Test
• Evaluation tool for Forward Deployed Personnel
• Conducted under existing ambient conditions
• 80-120ºF / 50 RH
• Intermittent work/rest protocol

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Heart Rate
DB 100ºF RH 40
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Core Temperature
DB 100ºF RH 40
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