Prevention and Management of Cold-Weather Injuries

Soldiers participating in military deployments often encounter cold Stress that requires management for successful mission accomplishment. Excessive cold stress degrades physical performance capabilities, significantly impacts morale, and eventually causes cold casualties. Cold stress environments include not only exposure to extremely low temperatures, but also cold-wet exposures in warmer ambient temperatures. The purpose of this bulletin is to provide guidance to military and civilian health care providers, allied medical personnel, and unit commanders and leaders to develop an evidence-based prevention program to protect military personnel from cold stress and associated adverse health effects. The TB MED will enable individuals to: 1) understand the physiologic responses and adaptations to cold, 2) implement procedures for managing cold stress, 3) understand the principles and proper use of cold weather clothing, 4) understand the diagnosis and treatment of nonfreezing and freezing cold injuries and other medical conditions associated with cold weather, 5) identify the risk factors for cold injuries and implement treatment, and 6) prevent cold injuries during deployment and training.