The dark side of mascotting

When bringing a mascot alive, performers are exposed to dangerous situations. Insufficient oxygenation and extreme heat compel them to temper their movements, moderate their level of activity.

Mascot performers constantly suffer the risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and asphyxia, all of which can lead to dramatic consequences.

For these mascots, these ambassadors of merriment so loved by the public, a costume often translates into a suffocating oven.

Costume manufacturers are aware of this, and continuously strive to find new ways to increase the mascot performer’s degree of comfort and security. Meanwhile, they must contend with devices such as the computer fan and the ice vest. The first is very noisy and simply shifts the contaminated air inside the mascot’s headpiece without ever bringing in new fresh air. The second is effective against heat strokes, but it is also heavy and eventually melts. What’s more, it can actually trigger additional health problems because of the drastic fluctuation in body temperature it can generate.

Invariably, the heat is on American costume manufacturers to develop a solution that is 100% safe.

When thermoregulation
is put to the test

Muscles produce heat that is measured in kilocalories. When at rest, thermal flux reaches 1 kcal per minute (70 watts). During sustained physical effort, the flux can reach 14.3 kcal (1,000 watts).

At this rate, body temperature increases 2 °F every 5 to 8 minutes. The body controls its temperature by convection, radiation and evaporation from the skin, as well as through the great volume of air passing through lungs.

Without this heat evacuation mechanism, the human body could not support an effort of more than 20 minutes, since its temperature would reach 107.6 °F.

Thermoregulation is efficient as long as the physical effort is made in a fresh and dry environment. But under intense heat and humidity, thermoregulation is harder to maintain at normal levels.

The temperature inside a mascot costume can reach 113 °F. Add to this the lack of enough fresh air to oxygenate the body properly. Breathing a large quantity of carbon dioxide over a long period of time can cause drowsiness, heat stroke or even asphyxia.

Mascot performers shoulder some 40 lbs. of costume, and if the outside temperature is near 86 °F, the inside temperature reaches 113°F in just 20 minutes. This can cause system failure as the body tries to regulate its own temperature.

These factors combined often force mascot performers to leave the scene in order to remove their headpiece and breathe some fresh air.

The solution is inside your head

When using the Air Jet Body Stream, the temperature inside the costume stays the same as the temperature outside the costume. So if, for example, it’s 95 °F outside, it’s 95 °F inside, too.

For mascot performers to move freely, to be safe, and to ensure the public is never deprived of enjoying the company of mascots, there’s only one solution: Make the Air Jet Body Stream the standard ventilation system for all mascot costumes worldwide!