A portable system for promoting heat removal and cooling of a human body is provided. The cooling system generally comprises a pair of panels, configured to be mounted to the chest and to the back of a human body and such as to define a space between themselves and the human body. The panels are each provided with at least one fan configured to draw the air and water vapor circulating in the space between the panels and the human body and to direct it away from the human body, effectively cooling the body.