A safe, environmentally-friendly, fluorocarbon-free temperature suppressing composition includes water in combination with a sugar alcohol in solution with the water and having a general formula H(HCHO)n+1H. Sorbitol is a preferred sugar alcohol (n=5) but sugar alcohols having n=3 to 4 or 6 to 11 may be used. The composition provides a heat absorption greater than the water alone and the sugar alcohol alone. Other sugar alcohols having the general formula H(HCOH)n+1HC, where n=10, may also be used. The composition may further include a wetting agent, an emulsifying agent, a viscosity adjusting agent, a preservative or biocide, or a freeze suppression agent. The composition affords levels of protection suited to a variety of applications including possibility of damage from exposure to excessive heat, combustion or explosion such as may be experienced in military combat.