(a) Blisters.
(b) Swelling or tender areas.
(c)
Loss of previous feeling of pain in the affected area.
(d) Pale, yellowish, waxy-looking skin.
(e) Frozen area feels solid or wooden to the touch.
e. Snow Blindness. Snow blindness is a temporary loss of sight caused by
ultraviolet rays from the sun reflecting off snow or ice. The condition is similar to a
welding flash burn and is caused by damage to the cells covering the cornea (clear
portion of the eye). Snow blindness is more likely to occur in hazy, cloudy weather than
when the sun is shining. Cloudy weather reduces the amount of visible light reaching
the eyes; therefore, soldiers are less likely to take proper preventive measures such as
wearing sunglasses. Ultraviolet rays, however, are not visible and are not reduced by
the haze or clouds. Signs and symptoms of snow blindness include:
(1)
Scratchy feeling in eyes, as if from sand or dirt.
(2)
Watery eyes.
(3)
Redness.
(4)
Headache.
(5)
Increased pain with exposure to light.
f. Hypothermia. Hypothermia (low body temperature) occurs when the entire
body is cooling with a core temperature (measured rectally) below 95 F. It is caused by
continued exposure to low or rapidly dropping temperatures, cold moisture, snow, or
ice. Hypothermia can be divided into two categories--mild and severe.
WARNING
Hypothermia is a medical emergency that will result in death if not
treated promptly. Prompt medical treatment is necessary.
Immediate evacuation is required.
(1) Mild hypothermia. In mild hypothermia, the casualty's core body
temperature is 90 F to 95 F. This condition should be suspected in any chronically ill
person who is found in an environment of less than 50 F. Signs and symptoms of mild
hypothermia include:
IS0877
9-12
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