Not being able to sweat – that can be hell in high temperatures. What seems almost inconceivable to most people is everyday life for tetraplegics. Any form of heat can no longer be handled by the body itself. Nevertheless, everyday things and situations have to be managed. So what to do when it’s hot? The climate-neutral E.COOLINE cooling functional clothing takes over the sweating for all those whose sweating function is restricted or no longer functioning at all.
Many people saw it live when Samuel Koch had an accident on “WETTEN DASS ?” in 2010. What few people know: In such a case, the body’s “sweating centre” also no longer functions and any form of heat can no longer be managed by the body itself.
After a car accident in Thailand, golf pro Jens Maspfuhl has also become paralysed and, as a “tetraplegic”, he too has the problem that “sweating” no longer works. Just like Samuel Koch, Jens has never given up and he is now a multiple German champion in his favourite sport. However, since golf for both disabled and non-disabled players usually takes place outdoors and, if possible, in bright sunshine, the body temperature rises sharply without the body’s own thermoregulation, making top athletic performances difficult.
BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH COOLING FOR TETRAPLEGICS
With the E.COOLINE shirt-vest and baseball cap, however, high temperatures are no problem for Jens Maspfuhl. Even in his favourite country, Thailand, he can be much more relaxed at the pool by wearing a cooling vest and he doesn’t have to constantly retreat to air-conditioned rooms.
POWERCOOL SX3 SHIRT VEST
POWERCOOL SX3 BASECAP
"Thanks to the E.COOLINE products, I now have one less problem when it's hot."​
SPORTING SUCCESS THANKS TO E.COOLINE
Not being able to sweat – that can be hell in high temperatures. What seems almost inconceivable to most people is everyday life for tetraplegics. This was also the case for Stefan Kretzschmar from the Tetrateam (www.das-tetrateam.de). In 2006, the mechanical engineer had an accident during a competition while crossing the Alps on his racing bike. Diagnosis: Paraplegia (tetraplegia C5/6).
Since then, his “sweating” no longer works either. However, this does not prevent the former triathlete from continuing to take on sporting challenges.
His passion is handbiking. With the E.COOLINE cooling clothing, he can do this even in high temperatures. “I can cope with temperatures up to +30°C,” Stefan Kretzschmar reports enthusiastically. “The bandana alone (worn under the helmet) allows me to ride for good 2-3 hours at +25°C. And with the shirt-vest that I wear under my jersey, I’m well equipped and have the temperature problems well under control.” He particularly likes the fact that there are no restrictions on movement when cycling, which would be especially annoying when handcycling. His conclusion: “Thanks to the E.COOLINE products, I now have one less problem in the heat”.
"For me, E.COOLINE cooling vests are a quantum leap in terms of quality of life".​
MORE QUALITY OF LIFE ALSO FOR STEFFEN LÖW
4 days “Rock im Park-Festival” in Nuremberg on the hot Whitsun weekend with over 30° in the shade. No problem for tetraplegic Steffen Löw. Due to his spinal cord injury, he can no longer sweat, but with the E.COOLINE full kit – baseball cap, bandana and cooling vest – he says he had a great festival.
Steffen Löw repeatedly tries out aids for wheelchair users to see if they are suitable for everyday use and passes on his experiences to other people affected by them in his blog “Eigude”. Here is his review of the E.COOLINE cooling products: “My spinal cord decided in 2007 that sweating is stupid. Since then, my skin has been very dry. This phenomenon is not uncommon among people with paraplegia. As a result, from 25° onwards and in the sun, my body temperature rises and rises. This can go as far as a circulatory collapse at about 40° C. A flower water sprayer can do wonders, but it’s not the best solution either. There are special cooling vests with cooling batteries or fans, but I think they are too complicated and you depend on batteries and refrigerators. I’d rather hide indoors and wait for winter.
In May, I met Sepp Jakober, the chief engineer of the Swisstrac wheelchair traction devices, and he gave me tuning tips for my Minitrac, among other things. He handed me a waistcoat from the company E.COOLINE, which I absolutely had to try out.
He said it would cool, you only had to pour water over it and the water would not leak out, hard to believe!!! It would absorb the water, sort of “sweat” and thereby “cool”. The item had been designed for firefighters. The cooling waistcoat worked!!! For me, a quantum leap for my quality of life.”
