192 Training for Specific Environments
Hypothermia
A lowering of body core temperature below 95° F is not an uncommon cold injury
of SEALs and mild hypothermia is a relatively easy injury to treat. Moderate to severe
hypothermia is less common and should be treated as a medical emergency. Some warning
signs of a falling body core temperature include:" Uncontrollable shivering.
" Slurred speech.
" Clumsiness.
" Slowed thought process.
" If shivering stops but all other signs are present - it could be an indication of
severe hypothermia.If any of the above signs occur, immediate action should be taken to prevent
further injury or death. Always handle personnel suspected of having hypothermia gently- do not allow them to perform vigorous exercise to warm up as this may cause cardiac
arrest. Remove wet clothing and place the individual in dry blankets or sleeping bag with
one or two other dry and warm personnel. Never completely immerse a
hypothermia patient in warm/hot water as this may result in cardiac
arrest. Passive rewarming is usually satisfactory for mild hypothermia, but may not be
adequate for severe cases.
Gentle rewarming is the safest method of
restoring normal body temperature.
Frostbite
Frostbite is a freezing injury which most commonly affects the hands and feet.
However, it can occur to any surface of the body that is not adequately protected.
Symptoms often follow a progressive pattern to include the initial sensation of cold
followed by numbness and eventually pain during rewarming. The skin may appear normal
or appear pale. If a frostbite injury is suspected, attempts to thaw the
affected tissue should be avoided until there is absolutely no chance of it
refreezing. Frostbitten feet should not be thawed if it is necessary for the injured to walk
unassisted to the extraction or medevac site. Rewarming is associated with severe pain and
may turn walking wounded casualties into nonambulatory casualties. All cases of frostbite
require evaluation at a definitive medical treatment facility.