Cold injuries among Israeli soldiers operating and training in a semiarid zone: a 10-year review

Abstract

Cold weather injuries (CIs) in 242 incidences among Israeli soldiers, who were operating and training in a relatively warm country, were reviewed. Peripheral CIs accounted for 55% of all CIs, whereas hypothermia accounted for 45%. A significant relationship was found between peripheral CIs and continuous operations, characterized by prolonged static exposures to a relatively high environmental cold stress. A significant relationship was also found between hypothermia cases and training activities, characterized by relatively short exposures to a low environmental cold stress in the absence of adequate protective clothing for the cold. Static exposure to a cold environment while wearing wet clothing was found to be the leading cause of both CI types. Peripheral CI prevention requires the improvement of protective clothing for the cold, with special emphasis on protective gear for the extremities. Hypothermia prevention requires increased awareness of military regulations regarding cold weather behavior, especially the importance of changing wet clothing during static periods of the training program.