Winter, cold-weather safety focus of quarterly safety council at Fort McCoy

Photo By Scott Sturkol | Students in Cold-Weather Operations Course (CWOC) Class 19-02 warm up near a camp fire Jan. 18, 2019, during class operations at Combat Outpost Lashgar on North Post at Fort McCoy, Wis. CWOC students are trained on a variety of cold-weather subjects, including snowshoe training and skiing as well as how to use ahkio sleds and other gear. Training also focuses on terrain and weather analysis, risk management, cold-weather clothing, developing winter fighting positions in the field, camouflage and concealment, and numerous other areas that are important to know in order to survive and operate in a cold-weather environment. The training is coordinated through the Fort McCoy Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

02.05.2019

Story by Aimee Malone 

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

In light of a recent storm that dropped about a foot of snow on Fort McCoy and surrounding areas — as well as subzero temperatures from a polar vortex — the primary topic at the Jan. 29 Safety and Occupational Health Advisory Council was winter safety.

Safety Specialist Don Vender with the Installation Safety Office stressed the importance of keeping supplies in vehicles in case the occupants are stranded in the cold. Blankets, extra cold-weather gear, disposable hand/foot warmers, and nonperishable food and water are some good staples to keep in the trunk.

“You’ve got to think about survival because this kind of weather can be deadly,” Vender said.

Common cold-weather injuries include hypothermia, frostbite, chilblains, and trench foot.

Hypothermia is a potentially fatal medical emergency that occurs when body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It occurs in severe cold weather, especially when the weather is windy, and wet clothing or immersion in water. Symptoms include shivering, dizziness, drowsiness, change in behavior, stumbling, altered vision, and slowed or slurred speech.

Someone with hypothermia symptoms should be evacuated immediately and rewarmed by removal of wet clothing; body-to-body contact; and/or drinking warm, sweet liquids.

Frostbite occurs when skin freezes, which can occur at 28 F. Symptoms include discolored skin, a tingling sensation, numbness, stiffness, and blisters. Seek medical attention and rewarm the affected body area with body heat (unless the skin could refreeze during evacuation).

Chilblains are nonfreezing cold injuries that occur that occur in cold, wet conditions. The skin turns pale and colorless and develops blisters in severe cases. The skin feels swollen, hot, and itchy upon rewarming. To treat, dry the skin and keep sterile and warm to allow it to heal.

Trench foot is similar, being caused by prolonged exposure of skin to moisture in cold or cool conditions. Skin looks soggy, white and shriveled at first, then turns red, blue, or black. The skin becomes swollen and waxy and may develop blisters or sores. Treatments includes drying the skin, rewarming feet, reducing swelling, and seeking medical treatment.

Preventing cold-weather injuries is both a command and individual responsibility, Vender said. Dress appropriately for the weather in layers, stay dry and change wet clothing, take breaks, and keep hydrated to help prevent injuries.

“Wear clothes based on what you’re doing outside,” Vender said. “If you’re going out to shovel the driveway or sidewalk for a couple of hours, … dress so you don’t sweat. If you’re standing outside and you’re not moving around, dress a little warmer.”

Identify service members, coworkers, or others who have had cold-weather injuries before as they’re more susceptible to future injuries, Vender said.

Other factors that increase the odds of injury include alcohol and nicotine use and dehydration, as well as the length of exposure to the cold.

Vender also reminded people to be cautious about walking or driving on ice. The recommended minimum thickness for new, clear ice is 4 inches for walking and ice fishing, 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or ATV, 8 to 12 inches for a car, and 12-15 inches for a truck, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

However, no ice is 100 percent safe, Vender said. If you fall through ice, don’t remove clothing, he said. The air trapped between the layers can help you float.

Turn toward the direction you came and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface. Kick your feet and dig in your ice picks to work your way back to solid ice. Lie flat on your back once you’re out of the water and roll away. Get to a warm, dry, sheltered area to prevent hypothermia.

If a vehicle goes through the ice, do your best to escape before it sinks. The chance of escaping diminishes quickly in the water. Front engines will cause the car to sink at a steep angle, and at depths of 15 feet, the car may flip upside down, Vender said.

For more information about Army safety, visit the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center’s website at https://safety.army.mil/.

Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services each year since 1984.

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.

• Date Taken: 02.05.2019
• Date Posted: 02.05.2019 15:07
• Story ID: 309594
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US