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Are Cooling Towels Right for You?
April 21, 2026 Madison Hemric

Are Cooling Towels Right for You?

Selecting proper PPE for high heat settings is one of the ways you can mitigate the risks of heat stress on the body. However, these can be very specific to the environment in which you are working. What is true of all settings is that we cannot wait until temperatures are constantly reaching high levels to make a plan. OSHA tells us that 50-70% of outdoor fatalities occur in the first few days of working in hot environments. With this in mind, all workplaces need to be prepared in advance.

Cooling towels are a prime example of varying effectiveness across applications. While they can be effective in some capacity in all settings, evaporative cooling towels will be most effective in less humid environments. According to Safeopedia, this is because in higher humidity situations the towel will not be evaporating off as quickly as it would in drier climates, causing it to hold onto heat the more time it is on the body (Matei, 2025).

However, cooling towels work by first submerging in cool water to “activate” them. So, while they may not retain their cooling effects for as long per activation in higher humidity environments, they can continue to be reactivated. Most of these towels can also be laundered and reused, making them a great tool in most high heat settings.

With proper use, cooling towels are a great addition to the safety plan for all workers facing heat stress risks. However, you may choose to consider other options such as beaded cooling bananas or headbands based on preference and environment. Regardless of the choice, it is important to remember that these are not a one and done solution. With high temperatures and more sweat, in most settings workers will need to reactivate their cooling measures to ensure they are effective all day. 

When considering your options, it is important to remember that towels cannot be the whole plan for keeping workers safe in high heat. Cooling towels are a very effective tool, but cannot be the only way you are keeping your workers safe from the risks of heat. You can read more on this here.

As you think through the heat risks for your employees, we are always here to help. Reach out at 919-602-2503 or marketing@safetypackonline.com with any questions you may have! 

Resources:

OSHA- “Overview: Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments”: https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure#MorePersonalRiskFactorsinformation\

Safeopedia- “How Do Cooling Towels Work?” By Karoly Ban Matei, August 21, 2025: https://www.safeopedia.com/how-do-cooling-towels-work/7/8056

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