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Environmental Medicine and Bioenergetics
| Cold Injury Protection |
MOMRP Task Area: I
Problem
Freezing cold injuries are well documented in military operations and medical research has provided effective freezing cold injury prevention and treatment strategies. However, warfighters frequently face the threat of hypothermia, a life-threatening nonfreezing cold injury, even when operating in moderate climates. The risk of hypothermia is even greater for warfighters operating in the rain or immersed in water during water-borne operations. Safety limits and human models are still poorly defined.
Medical Research Solution
Conduct medical research to establish the scientific basis for effective cold injury prevention strategies and treatments that reduce further injury caused by improper rewarming.
Products
- Guidance on cold and immersion exposure time limits.
- Strategies including drug interventions to protect soldiers against nonfreezing cold injury.
- Treatments to reduce further injury caused by improper rewarming.
Last Update: April 2, 2003