Cold Injury Complicating Trauma in the Subfreezing Environment

Abstract

During the Winter Medical Readiness Training exercise in Maine, simulated victims developed early hypothermia while in the subfreezing environment prior to medical attention. The early changes of hypothermia were aggravated by wet, cold clothing sustained during an associated fire fighting exercise. A literature search has revealed that the use of polyethylene envelopes to protect individuals from the effects of wind and cold while awaiting medical attention can significantly retard the development of cold injury especially in the injured patient with exposed cold, wet flesh. A proposal for polyethylene envelope use along with available low temperature reading thermometers is made as a result of this experience and subsequent literature review.