Training videos to prevent cold weather injuries

Abstract

Cold weather injuries (CWIs) are a challenge during military training, exercises and operations in Arctic conditions. Soldier performance in these challenging conditions depends on protective equipment, knowledge, personal experience, routines, and leadership. Despite the Norwegian Armed Forces’ goal of zero freezing cold injuries (FCIs), there has been a persistently high incidence of FCIs among the younger soldiers with an average of 120–150 new FCIs recorded each year. Therefore, an expert working group with representatives from medical, defence and research background was established in 2020. Their task was to develop a communication package to help prevent CWIs among military personnel. Training videos and an updated and improved official website were created with a focus on practical recommendations and advice to prevent CWIs and especially FCIs. Risks, prevention and symptoms of FCIs were emphasised. The main goal of the training videos was to supplement current teaching on guidance for CWI prevention in CWOs to prevent FCIs, but following the advice may prevent non-freezing cold injuries (NFCIs) and hypothermia. This informative paper describes the background, working methods and possible implications of the training videos, which may be a potential way forward to improve cold weather training and operations.

Human performance and medical treatment during cold weather operations – synthesis of a symposium

“…More effective training, even pre-exposure, was raised as a key concern in this symposium; individuals should not have to “learn by injury”. Teien et al [ 14 ] introduced training videos to prevent cold injuries, covering basic thermal physiology, introducing concepts regarding the correct use of clothing and equipment and providing instructions on the importance of taking care of one another other especially during exposure to cold and wet conditions. These are being used by the Norwegian Armed Forces in an effort to reduce surprisingly high rates of FCI.…”