CHAPTER 1
Introduction
1-1. Purpose
This bulletin provides guidance to military and civilian health care providers, allied medical personnel, and unit commanders and leaders to-
a. Develop an evidence-based prevention program to protect military personnel from cold stress and associated adverse health effects.
b. Understand the physiologic responses and adaptations to cold (chapter 2). c. Implement procedures for managing cold stress (chapter 3).
d. Understand the principles and proper use of cold-weather clothing.
e. Understand the diagnosis and treatment of nonfreezing and freezing cold injuries and other medical conditions associated with cold weather.
f. Identify the risk factors for cold injuries and implement treatment (chapter 4). g. Understand the principles and use of the windchill temperature index.
h. Prevent cold injuries during deployment and training.
i. Provide background information for reporting injuries and data collection of epidemiological information to note trends and to identify individual, work, and environmental factors that are not adequately controlled by preventive measures and policies.
1-2. References
Required and related publications are listed in appendix A.
1-3. Explanation of abbreviations and terms
The glossary contains a list of abbreviations and terms used in this publication.
1-4. Roles
a. Unit commanders, medical planners, medical officers, preventive medicine personnel, medics, and combat lifesavers will coordinate to implement educational and training programs at all levels in the command based on the principles of this document. They will review all training and operations to make sure adequate planning is made for emergency medical support and cold injury assessment and management where tactically feasible.
b. Unit commanders, and leaders when appropriate, will-
(1) Integrate the medical officer into all planning decisions for cold-weather operations. (2) Assess training/mission hazards from cold, wetness, and wind exposure.
(a) During the advance planning stages, incorporate information about the mean and extreme climatic conditions at the deployment site, to include the 24-hour pattern of temperature and humidity and the times of sunrise and sunset. Use of trademarked names does not imply endorse