The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Mil Med. 2021 Nov 2;186(11-12):e1250-e1253. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usaa384.
Frostbite, or the freezing of the tissues by exposure to conditions below the freezing point of water, is an unsettling and potentially dangerous condition that one can develop while living and working in cold environments below 0°C without proper protections. Civilians and military personnel operating in prolonged field conditions in temperatures below freezing rely on advanced fabrics and multiple layers to maintain body heat around the extremities to prevent frostbite. Here, we detail the situation and findings of frostbite in 2 American service members who were exposed to temperatures of approximately -19.5°C for 5 hours while hiking on frozen sea ice. Notably, these members were wearing their issued cold weather equipment at the time of their injury. The personnel presented with the classic signs and symptoms of second-degree frostbite with blistering and tingling but went on to have no lasting serious sequelae. We find these cases important as it documents the inadequacy of the footgear utilized, despite being operated in weather conditions within the range of the manufacturer's safety recommendations. Sea ice and other very cold, conducting surfaces may require other gear considerations when operating in this unique terrain type.
冻伤，或组织因暴露在低于水冰点的环境中而冻结，是一种令人不安且潜在危险的情况，人们在 0°C 以下的寒冷环境中生活和工作时，如果没有适当的保护，就可能会发生这种情况。在低于冰点的温度下，在长时间野外作业的平民和军事人员依靠先进的面料和多层衣物来保持四肢的体温，以防止冻伤。在这里，我们详细介绍了 2 名美国军人的冻伤情况，他们在冰冻的海冰上徒步时，暴露在大约-19.5°C 的温度下长达 5 小时。值得注意的是，这些军人在受伤时穿着他们发放的防寒装备。这些人员表现出典型的二度冻伤症状，包括水疱和刺痛，但没有留下持久的严重后遗症。我们认为这些病例很重要，因为它记录了所使用的足部装备的不足，尽管是在制造商安全建议范围内的天气条件下使用的。在这种独特的地形类型中作业时，海冰和其他极冷的导电表面可能需要其他装备考虑因素。
