Eaten Alive: Cooling Beneath the Snake-Proof Suit

We were so surprised to see one of our custom cooling systems on the Discovery Channel this weekend! 

Paul Rosolie, a snake researcher and conservationist, contacted us last spring to request a custom cooling vest to be worn in Peru while filming a show about anacondas. 

He failed to mention that the show was called Eaten Alive and that his intention was to be swallowed by a massive anaconda!

The show received many mixed reviews, and we won't spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it. We will say that Paul, the snake and the cooling vest were not harmed during production. (Well, we can't say for certain that the cooling vest wasn't harmed... but we hope it's ok too!)

The suit worn by Paul Rosolie in 'Eaten Alive' (Discovery)

Paul's protective suit was made of multiple layers, each designed to protect against a specific threat:

• First, Paul wore a biometric vest to enable his team to monitor his heart rate, his respiratory rate and his core body temperature during the action
• He then added a custom Cool Flow® cooling vest designed by Polar Products (that's us!) to keep him from overheating while inside the snake's body
• The next layer is a full-body Tyvek hazmat suit to protect against the snake's gastric juices
• A layer of chainmail-type material to defend him against the snake's fangs 
• Finally, on top of all of that, Paul wore an ultra-strong carbon-fiber shell to defend against crushing constriction

You can watch behind-the-scenes videos about the suit on YahooTV, but here are some of our favorite quotes:

"Here's the cooling vest. That'll keep you cool through the whole thing." - Ron (engineer)

"I am so &$@!ing freezing!" - Paul Rosolie

(Best. Testimonial. Ever.)

"Ok, let me turn the vest up a little." - Dr. Cynthia Bir

"Clearly overheating is not a problem." - Paul

"We're down in the Amazon in June. 

You're going to want to stay cool." - Ron

"See these little channels all  through here. There's going to be cool water running through that vest to cool you off." - Ron 

"It weighs less than a pound full of water." 

- Ron 

100 feet of insulated tubing between the vest and the cooling reservoir

We created custom Cool Flow® blanket systems to keep high-def cameras cool while filming The Hobbit in New Zealand, but this was our debut in front of the camera. We're proud to work with individuals to create custom cooling for their very unique applications!

Cool Flow® Cooling Vest System by Polar Products Inc.

Do you need to stay cool during high intensity work, strenuous activity or crazy adventures? We've got you covered! 

Contact us at 1-800-763-8423 or polar@polarproducts.com.

Visit www.polarproducts.com to see our complete line of personal cooling systems. 

Equestrian Cooling

The Equine Insider recently wrote a great review about our Kool Max® Fashion Vest for horseback riders.

Paige says, "I wore this vest both while riding and doing barn chores, and simply loved it!"

Kool Max® Fashion Vest

She really liked using the Cool58 packs with the vest because riders don't always have access to a freezer. 

Cool58 packs for the Fashion Vest

Click here to read Paige's review.

We received an e-mail this week from Carolyn. Here she is riding her horse Boo-Berry. Can you tell she's wearing a cooling vest beneath her jacket?!

Carolyn wrote: "Hello! I just wanted to share with you my experience with the vests. We gave the Kool Max® Vests out to MS patients in an event we call 'Ride To Be Cool'. It is a barrel racing event that promote awareness to MS patients with problems with heat. I wanted to share my photo at the Maine State championships. Here I am riding my horse Boo-Berry at the show. It was almost 90 degrees and I could fit my vest under my fancy shirt. Proof that you can stay cool and still look great! We were blinged out and cool enough to be able to compete! Thank you!" 

Yesterday another horseback rider posted this photo on Polar's Facebook page:

Joie is wearing our
Kool Max® Secrets Vest beneath her shirt!

"I am wearing the torso cooling vest under my shirt. It was a great day to go ride Dusty. Thank you for bringing me this joy again!" 

- Joie T. via our Facebook page

Over the years we've had many happy customers tell us that our cooling vests have helped them continue riding horses:

"Having a cooling vest changed my life! I ride horses and I was actually able to show on an 85 degree day! Now I don't have to plan around the weather to compete. Thank you!"

- Carolyn in Pittsfield, ME

"I have been training horses and teaching riding lessons for almost 40 years, and the heat of the summer gets harder to take as I get older. I am so thankful for the cooling vest, neck wrap, and wrist wraps that allow me to continue working with horses in the stifling heat and humidity. Without these cooling items, I'd have to give up the horses and work in an office! Thank you so much!"  

- Annalisa in Kansas City, MO

"I have the Kool Max cooling vest and love it! I ride horses and this vest works great at keeping me cool."

- Sherry in Madill, OK

"I am really enjoying the Kool Max vest in the dog days of August and September in hot, humid southwest Georgia.  I have had trouble all summer with Lupus flares due to the intense heat and humidity.  The vest has allowed me to spend time with my horses even on very hot days without having to spend the next day in bed."

- L. Kelley in Georgia

We are so happy our cooling vests can help people continue doing the things they love - even when they experience heat-sensitivity!

Matt's Kool Max® Vest Video Review

From Matt's blog at mattcavallo.com:

"From May until September, temperatures in Chandler, Arizona are constantly in the triple digits. For the first four summers since I moved to Chandler, the heat constantly affected my MS. I found that during the high heat that I was more fatigued, more irritable and had less energy than I did during the cooler months. I also noticed that my cognitive abilities and vision were not as crisp when temps were in the hundreds. I often wondered if cooling products could actually improve my quality of life.

Matt is an author, blogger, and motivational speaker with MS

I recently had the opportunity to try out a cooling vest when I was sent a Kool Max® [Men's Fashion] cooling vest by Polar Products. I wanted to conduct some tests to see if cooling vests really made a difference. It was important to me that the vest was comfortable, easy to move in and didn’t obstruct my routine.

Click here to see Matt’s YouTube Video Review!

To review the Kool Max®, I tested it in tough desert conditions. Typically to avoid the sun, I do my outside chores in the early morning before the sun comes up. For this experiment, however, I cleaned the pool and picked up the backyard during the late afternoon hours. The temperature was 102 degrees and my chores took me an hour and half to complete. I also took my dog for a walk in the afternoon when it was 104 degrees, wearing business casual clothes.

Here are my results:

• The vest is lightweight and I had no problems moving around while wearing it.
• Despite the heat, the cooling cartridges stayed frozen the entire time.
• The compartments that hold the cooling cartridges kept my clothes dry, but I still got the cooling benefit.
• Because my core stayed cool, I had more energy to stay outside despite the triple digit temperature.
• If I could change one thing, I would have taken the cooling cartridges out of the plastic bag they came in and placed them in the freezer flat. Because I froze them balled up, they were harder to insert than if I would have put them flat in the freezer.

Kool Max® Cooling Packs

In conclusion, I found the Kool Max® cooling vest to be comfortable and lightweight, allowing me to conduct my daily routine without getting in the way. My core stayed cool, which seemed to give me more energy and allow me to be outside for a greater time than I would without a cooling solution. As a person living with a chronic illness, I would definitely recommend the Kool Max cooling vest as a way to stay active in the heat while keeping your core temperature cool. I will be using mine all summer long!"

Click here to see Matt’s YouTube Video Review!

About Matt: Matt Cavallo was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. Matt is an MS blogger, author, patient advocate, and motivational speaker. Matt also has his Master’s degree in Public Health Administration. Matt is the proud father of his two sons, loving husband to his wife, Jocelyn, and best friend to his dog, Teddy. Originally from the Boston suburbs, Matt currently resides in Arizona with his family. To learn more about Matt, please visit him at: http://mattcavallo.com/blog/

Ichthyosis Awareness

May is Ichthyosis Awareness Month. 

According to the Foundation for Ichythosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST) website, many individuals with ichthyosis do not sweat normally. The thickness of their skin and the scale does not allow their sweat to reach the surface of their skin and cool them effectively. In very hot and humid weather they are at risk for overheating, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. 

We offer safe 58 degree cooling vests and accessories for kids and toddlers with medical conditions that cause sensitivity to heat.

"The toddler cooling vest is a true lifesaver for my daughter. She has a skin condition called Ichthyosis that prevents her from sweating and regulating her body temperature. With this vest she is able to attend recess and PE with her friends at school and participate in other outdoor activities. The ice packs stay cool for a long time in 80 degree weather," says a mom in Texas. 

To learn more about Ichthyosis and find out how you can help, visit www.firstskinfoundation.org.

COOL DOWN for a better workout!

According to a new study, using a combination of cooling techniques - like wearing a cooling vest - before or during exercise helps athletes perform better in the heat!

Before working out, the athletes in the study used cooling methods like wearing a cooling vest or cooling packs, immersing themselves in cold water, drinking cold water or an ice slurry, or a combination of several techniques.

The result? Using cooling techniques before or during exercise improved performance and combining the two worked best. Researchers found that the most effective method was wearing a cooling vest during exercise and a combination of all the techniques before exercise.

Polar's CoolFit® Kit
Ideal for pre-cooling and cooling during exercise!

“More blood will be available for oxygen transportation to the exercising muscles, which enables a better performance,” said Dr. Thijs M H Eijsvogels, of the physiology department at Radboud University Medical Center in The Netherlands. 

Cool Comfort® Hybrid Deluxe Sports Vest

How does body cooling help? 

Cooling methods may reduce the amount of energy the body needs to use to stay cool, so the body has more energy for the exercise itself. Exercise increases core body temperature, which can diminish performance. The study found that pre-cooling decreased peak core body temperatures from 102.4 degrees Fahrenheit to 100.6 degrees. 

Above: Kool Max Wrist Wraps and Kool Max® Ankle Wrap

Read the full article on Reuters:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/30/us-cooling-techniques-athletes-idUSKBN0DG1IH20140430

Find the study results at the British Journal of Sports Medicine:

http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2014/04/19/bjsports-2013-092928.abstract

Visit our website to see our full selection of cooling vests and accessories for athletes.

Hot & Cold Therapy for Migraines and Headaches

When I have a headache, it's usually caused by neck tension, eye strain or sinus pressure. I keep my Thera-Temp® Moist Heat Cervical Wrap in the kitchen right by my microwave and find that I use it nearly every night to relieve these various pain.  If you suffer from migraines and headaches, check out our hot and cold therapy products to find the one that's right for you! - Erin

Thera-Temp® Moist Heat Cervical Wrap

Why use cold or moist heat therapy?

According to numerous studies, it can be helpful to apply both cold and moist heat therapy to manage migraines and headaches.

COLD THERAPY

Cold therapy constricts blood vessels and calms inflammation. This can reduce the pressure in your head, which may ease the pain. Cold compresses also have a natural numbing effect.  

> Check out our Soft Ice® Compression Wraps for the head and neck

MOIST HEAT THERAPY

Moist heat therapy will relax muscles. If there is tension in the jaw, neck or shoulders, applying heat relaxes tight muscles and may ease the pain. Heat can relax the entire body to help you manage stress. 

> Check out our Thera-Temp® Moist Heat Wraps

TRIGGER POINT MASSAGE THERAPY

Combines the therapeutic benefits of massage and cold or hot therapy in an effective tool with a stainless steel massage ball or bullet.  

> Check out our Roller Ice®

Save 15% with a pain relief kit!

COMBINATION THERAPY

Provides the therapeutic benefits of both cold compression AND moist heat! Many doctors recommend alternating cold and heat therapy for maximum benefits.  Our pain relief kits include a moist heat wrap, a compression therapy wrap, and extra hot/cold therapy packs.

> Check out our Migraine and Headache Pain Relief Kit

PS - Rose, Bill and Jil are exhibiting at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia this week!

Contact us if you would like copies of our 

brochure for migraines and headaches.

"I LOVE THIS UNIT."

We love hearing what customers think about our products! Here are some recent customer reviews for our Active Ice® System:

Active Ice® System

“Wow. I stopped by your shop recently to see if I could replace my water circulating pad for a unit that isn’t yours. Instead, I decided to buy a brand new unit from you guys, a local company I know where to find. I got the larger 15 quart cooler size, which I had never seen before. My nurses were happily surprised with the larger unit and commented on how nice that must be for customers in pain. I have been using the unit since leaving the hospital yesterday and I just needed to call and say, 'Wow! I love this unit.' It works great- better than my old one. It has great flow, a quiet pump and is an excellent product. It is nice to do business with people you know. Thanks Polar!”

- George in Canton, Ohio

"I purchased the system for use after total knee replacement surgery. The unit arrived before the surgery and we brought it to the hospital for post-surgical use. The relief provided was immediate and beneficial. PROS: Easy set up; extended length hose very useful; timer; coldness adjustment; larger capacity chest for more ice; easy-to-use connectors."

- James in Nevada

Active Ice® System

"The [Active Ice®] works much better than using ice packs. The system is quiet (to allow sleeping) and has a timer. It was easy to put on and stays in place. I recommend this product for anyone with knee and/or joint swelling."

- Len in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Let us know what you think, too!

Contact us at polar@polarproducts.com.

Polar in the News: Featured in ORToday Magazine!

We were honored to be featured in the March issue of ORToday magazine to announce the launch of our CoolOR® System, our circulating water cooling vest system designed specifically for cooling surgical staff in operating rooms.

Read the full article below:

This year, Polar Products is celebrating its 30th year as a family-owned business manufacturing a full line of body cooling systems and cold and hot therapy products.

 “Polar Products has grown and prospered due to our commitment to manufacturing innovative, high-quality products and by listening to our customers’ feedback to continually improve our products and service,” says William Graessle, President and CEO.

Their highly successful operating room and surgical cooling systems have recently been redesigned with new innovative features that deliver outstanding cooling benefits in operating rooms.

“We are excited to announce the product launch of Polar’s new CoolOR® System, a circulating water cooling vest unit designed specifically to meet the needs of surgeons and OR staff,” says Jacob Graessle, Vice President and Surgeon and OR Systems Specialist for Polar Products. “We’ve taken our best-selling Cool Flow® vest and updated the system specifications based on years of feedback from hospitals nationwide.”

CoolOR® System

“Our new CoolOR® System is a great example of Polar’s commitment to providing customers the finest body cooling and therapy systems available,” added Jacob. 

Polar Products recently moved into a new 20,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Polar began manufacturing cold and hot therapy packs and therapy wraps in the early 1980s and expanded to body cooling systems in the late 1990s. Circulating water therapy and cooling systems like the CoolOR® System were developed in the 2000s. Today, Polar Products manufactures every type of cooling technology.

CoolOR® System

“We are so confident that medical professionals will prefer Polar Products’ cooling systems that we offer hospitals a free 30-day trial on any product we sell,” says Jacob. “If after 30 days the cooling system or product does not meet your needs, return it and pay only the return freight.”

A key feature of the new CoolOR® System is that electrical cords have been eliminated! The system is run on an efficient, convenient lithium-ion battery pack which provides increased portability and more than six hours of power. All of the electrical components are UL Listed. This, along with a wheeled cart and dry quick disconnect couplings, makes the CoolOR® System the most portable and flexible cooling vest system available for operating rooms worldwide.

Multiple styles of cooling vests allow the surgeon to choose his or her preference, which is an example of Polar Products’ focus on meeting the unique needs of each individual customer. 

Heavy-Duty Vest       Fitted Vest       Adjustable Vest

Polar Products currently offers three different vests styles for the CoolOR® System; with two new additional styles currently in development, Polar Products offers the most comprehensive line of OR cooling systems on the market.

Polar Products is a worldwide leader in manufacturing body cooling systems, with over 25 years of experience cooling people in diverse applications, including industrial safety, construction, emergency services, athletics and fitness, the military and people with medical heat-sensitivity.

Polar Products will also manufacture custom systems to meet unique needs, including multiple person cooling from a single system. In addition to providing cooling systems for OR staff, Polar Products has supplied systems for research studies to a wide variety of institutions such as American universities and hospitals, including Joslin Diabetes Center, Inc. at Harvard University, Vanderbilt University, University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital. Polar Products has also supplied international universities and hospitals, including University of Roehampton in London, University of Copenhagen, and Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou in Paris.

You can personalize your vest with custom embroidery.

Polar Products is committed to ensuring complete customer satisfaction and long-term customer loyalty.

“We pride ourselves on our commitment to stand by our products unconditionally and to always do what is right,” says President William Graessle.

Polar Products also manufactures Active Ice® therapy systems for patients’ post-surgery pain relief. This easy-to-use circulating water cold therapy system offers comfortable, convenient and portable drug-free pain relief, includes a convenient 30 minute timer and is ideal for after surgery, when serious

pain relief is required.

Active Ice® Therapy System

For more information on Polar Products’ complete line of body cooling systems and hot and cold therapy products, visit www.polarproducts.com.

The Kool Max® Difference

OUR BEST-SELLING COOLING VEST: 

The Kool Max® Zipper Front Vest! 

What makes the Kool Max® Zipper Front Vest the best choice for so many diverse applications? 

#1: A cooling vest must fit comfortably and snug to the body to be effective. Polar accomplishes this with four separate vest sizes that have adjustment straps at the chest, waist and shoulders.

#2: This vest uses separate smaller cooling packs that allow the number and location of these packs to be easily adjusted to fit each individual's need. This also enables each vest to have the appropriate number of packs in proportion to the wearer's size.

#3: Our patent pending spinal cooling design enables you to use fewer packs and still receive effective cooling. (See picture below!)

KOOL MAX® ZIPPER FRONT VEST FEATURES:

1. ADJUSTABLE, CUSTOM FIT
This cooling vest is adjustable at the chest, waist and shoulders for a snug, comfortable and customized fit. 

2. CONVENIENT AND EASY TO WEAR
Once the cooling vest has been adjusted for size, it is easy to put on every time with the zipper-pull front. The clean design (with no logos or visible pack pockets!) is available in several unisex sizes Wear over clothing or discreetly underneath.

3. COMFORTABLE 100% COTTON
The cooling vest shell is constructed of durable, machine washable, 100% cotton twill. Available in Khaki or Blue.

4. KOOL MAX® COOLING PACKS
Reusable, water-based Kool Max® cooling packs freeze solid to provide constant cooling for up to 3 - 4 hours. These Kool Max® packs are 4.5" x 6". 
(Please note: cooling times are estimates and will vary depending on climate, body metabolism and activity. The different vest sizes include eight (8) to twelve (12) packs. See the size chart below for more information.)

5. INSULATED PACK POCKETS
Packs fit into insulated pockets inside the cooling vest. The pockets have a comfortable all-cotton fabric to protect the skin and an insulated outer composite fabric to direct the cooling energy toward the body. 

6. VARIABLE WEIGHT
Weight may be adjusted by varying the number of cooling packs used. The use of separate, individual packs allows the number of cooling packs used to be customized for each person's preference and size. 

7. PATENT PENDING SPINAL COOLING
Pack pockets are placed strategically down the spine for optimal cooling. (Patent pending design!) The location of desired cooling is easily controlled by which pack pockets are used.

8. RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES
The extra set of Kool Max® Cooling Packs is offered at a special discount when purchased with the vest! Keep the extra set in the freezer or a Polar Cooler, ready to use to double your cooling time. The soft-sided Polar Cooler measures 7" x 14" x 12" and will conveniently carry multiple sets of Kool Max® Packs for vests and accessories.

If you have any questions about this product, please call 1.800.763.8423 and we will be happy to help!