Gurgaon – In an effort to provide relief to personnel working in extreme heat conditions, the Gurgaon traffic police have introduced innovative cooling jackets. These battery-powered ‘AC jackets’ are equipped with fans and ice pads, capable of reducing body temperature by 3-4 degrees Celsius for up to five hours, as per the police officials.
Trial Phase and Distribution
A trial phase has been initiated to evaluate the effectiveness of these jackets. ACP (headquarters/traffic) Sukhbir Singh explained, “The jackets are designed to keep the upper body cool, with built-in fans that can operate for three to five hours. They can be recharged using readily available charging points.” The exact cost per jacket is yet to be determined as the evaluation of their overall effectiveness is still ongoing.
On Thursday, DCP (traffic) Virender Vij distributed the jackets to 13 zonal officers at his office, marking the beginning of the trial. “These officers will wear the jackets while on duty at their respective checkpoints and provide feedback. Based on their input, we will decide whether to distribute the jackets to all traffic police personnel,” he stated.
Manufacturing and Design
Manufactured by Plus Advanced Technologies Ltd, the jackets feature an inner vest with phase change material and an outer layer with small, battery-powered ventilation fans. Samit Jain, the firm’s managing director, commented, “Heatwaves in north India cause severe stress for outdoor workers. Each lightweight, efficient jacket is designed to mitigate this stress.”
Feedback from Personnel
The jackets have received mixed feedback during the testing phase. Some officers reported improved comfort and performance, while others highlighted issues. Manphool Singh, a zonal officer, noted, “These jackets are heavy. The ice pads melt quickly, lasting only about two hours before needing to be refrozen, which is impractical as freezers aren’t accessible on the roads. Additionally, cooling limited to the upper body may cause temperature imbalances and potential health issues.”
Historical Context and Future Plans
In 2017, the Hyderabad traffic police acquired similar jackets, but they were discontinued due to negative feedback regarding their effectiveness. The jackets were described as cumbersome and lost their cooling properties rapidly due to condensation. The Gurgaon police, however, have made modifications to these jackets and plan to gather feedback from at least 50 policemen before making a decision on wider distribution.
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