Army Ground Risk-Management Publication. Countermeasure. Volume 20, Number 9
Abstract
Autumn is here, and winter is not far away. In some parts of the world, winter is here, right now, with all of its inherent dangers to soldiers and their equipment. It is important to remember that we are all susceptible to cold weather injuries, even when temperatures are moderate. Prolonged exposure to conditions that we would not think of as cold can be every bit as dangerous as the biting cold of winter. This issue of Countermeasure is dedicated to helping commanders, leaders, and soldiers recognize some of the hazards associated with cold weather operations. Cold weather operations demand a high price, first in terms of human suffering, and then in terms of reduced mission capability. Nevertheless, the Army is getting better at protecting soldiers from the cold. In 1998, 5 cold injury cases were reported to the Safety Center; that is down from 11 cold injuries the year before. While the numbers are coming down, the causes remain the same. The three most common types of cold injuries are hypothermia, frostbite, and trench (immersion) foot. To address these threats, the article, "Fighting the Cold War," on page 3 explains what happens when soldiers are exposed to the harsh conditions of cold and freezing precipitation and the importance of keeping warm and dry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA368981
Entities
Organizations
- United States Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center