e. Snow Blindness. Snow blindness can usually be prevented by wearing
regular or improvised sunglasses. To treat a casualty with snow blindness:
(1)
Cover the casualty's eyes with a dark cloth.
(2) Reassure the casualty. The condition usually heals within a few days
with no permanent damage.
(3)
Seek medical treatment. Evacuate the casualty if possible.
f. Hypothermia. Hypothermia is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment is
needed. Move the casualty to a sheltered area and replace wet clothing.
(1)
Mild hypothermia.
(a) Rewarm the body evenly using a heat source such as a campfire or
another soldier's body. Merely placing the casualty in a sleeping bag or covering with a
blanket is not enough since the casualty is unable to generate sufficient body heat on
his own.
(b) Keep the casualty dry and protected from the elements.
(c)
Have a conscious casualty to gradually drink warm, nonalcoholic
liquids.
(d) Seek medical help for the casualty immediately.
(2)
Severe hypothermia.
(a) Stabilize the casualty's temperature. Apply an additional heat
source. The casualty's body is not able to generate sufficient body heat and must
receive warmth from another source. One method is to place the casualty in a sleeping
bag with his outer clothing removed and have another soldier remove his outer clothing
and get into the sleeping bag also. Cover both soldiers with additional clothing. The
casualty's body will absorb the heat given off by the second soldier's body.
(b) Apply blankets and other insulation to prevent further heat loss.
(c) Evacuate to the nearest medical treatment facility as soon as
possible. Evacuate the casualty even if you cannot detect respiration or a heartbeat.
(d) Monitor the casualty for life-threatening conditions such as
respiratory failure.
IS0877
9-18
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