Recruiting

Electric Fan Use

Sponsor:

University of Ottawa

Code:

NCT07864103

Conditions

Heat Stress

Physiological Stress

Child Development

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 9 - 25

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Simulated exposure to indoor overheating without fans

Simulated exposure to indoor overheating with fans

Study Details

Brief summary:

Extreme heat exposure is an escalating global public health concern, with climate change driving increases in the frequency, duration, and intensity of heat events. Projections indicate substantial increases in heat-related morbidity and mortality in the coming decades, including among children and youth, who are increasingly recognized as a physiologically vulnerable population. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of commonly used heat-mitigation strategies, specifically midday access daylong electric fan use, in reducing physiological strain and maintaining cognitive function, perceptual comfort, and psychological well-being in children and youth exposed to prolonged indoor heat. The study also aims to determine whether these strategies provide comparable protection in children and youth relative to young adults. Participants will complete four sessions under the same environmental conditions (31°C and 36°C), with each temperature completed twice: once with continuous electric fan use and once without fan use. The four sessions therefore consist of: (1) 31°C without fan use; (2) 31°C with fan use; (3) 36°C without fan use; and (4) 36°C with fan use.

Conditions

Heat Stress

Physiological Stress

Child Development

Study ID

NCT07864103

Start date

Oct 2, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

Jun 30, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr 30, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 9 - 25

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must be healthy males or females within the specified age ranges (9-12 years, 13-16 years, or 20-25 years).
  • All participants must be habitually active, defined as participation in regular physical activity at least three times per week for a minimum of 20 minutes per session over the previous six months.
  • Participants must be able to understand and communicate in English or French.
  • For participants under 18 years of age, written parental or guardian consent and participant assent will be required prior to participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals will be excluded from participation if they have any acute illness at the time of testing (e.g., cold, flu, or infection), or a history of chronic medical conditions that may affect thermoregulation, cardiovascular function, or exercise capacity, including but not limited to cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, or neurological disorders. Individuals taking medications known to influence thermoregulation, hydration status, or cardiovascular responses will also be excluded.
  • Participants with a history of heat-related illness (e.g., heat exhaustion or heat stroke) will not be eligible.
  • Individuals with digestive abnormalities or gastrointestinal conditions that may contraindicate ingestion of a telemetry pill will also be excluded.
  • Any individual who, in the opinion of the investigators, may be at increased risk or unable to safely complete the study procedures will be excluded.

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Warm indoor environment of 31°C without fans

Participants exposed daylong (6 hours) to an indoor temperature maintained at 31°C and 45% relative humidity without fan exposure.

experimental: Warm indoor environment of 31°C with fans

Participants exposed daylong (6 hours) to an indoor temperature maintained at 31°C and 45% relative humidity with fan exposure.

experimental: Hot indoor environment of 36°C without fans

Participants exposed daylong (6 hours) to an indoor temperature maintained at 36°C and 45% relative humidity with fan exposure.

experimental: Hot indoor environment of 36°C with fans

Participants exposed daylong (6 hours) to an indoor temperature maintained at 36°C and 45% relative humidity with fan exposure.

Interventions

Simulated exposure to indoor overheating without fans

Children and young adults exposed to a 6-hour simulated heat exposure without fans.

Simulated exposure to indoor overheating with fans

Children and young adults exposed to a 6-hour simulated heat exposure without fans.

Primary outcome measure

  • Core temperature (Peak) during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [ Time Frame: End of 6 hour daylong exposure ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Glen P Kenny

613-562-5800gkenny@uottawa.ca

Locations

University of Ottawa

Recruiting

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5

Contacts

Glen P Kenny

613-562-5800gkenny@uottawa.ca

More Information

Sponsor

University of Ottawa

Last update posted

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Ottawa on 2026-10-07. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.