MASTER SGT. ANTHONY CAMPO
G3, Investigations, Reporting and Tracking
U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center
Fort Rucker, Alabama

Safety is paramount in the military, especially when operating in extreme environments. As Soldiers, we train rigorously to ensure that we can handle anything nature throws at us. But sometimes, even the best training can’t prevent unexpected emergencies. This story is how my Ranger buddies and I saved a Marine from a dangerous situation — one that started as a heat-related issue and quickly escalated into a life-threatening case of hypothermia.

While conducting mountain warfare training, the conditions were harsh, with the temperature dropping well below freezing. We knew that cold-weather injuries, such as frostbite and hypothermia, could become serious threats. However, we did not expect to encounter a Marine laying face-down in the snow … alone.

The Marine was unresponsive and displayed clear signs that he was suffering from severe exposure to the cold. His clothing layers had trapped heat and sweat against his body, causing him to overheat. Once he lost consciousness, his soaked clothing began to cool, making him lose body heat rapidly. Our immediate concern was that the combination of his unresponsive state and the cold environment put him at a high risk of slipping into severe hypothermia.

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, we knew we had to act quickly to save the man’s life. My buddies immediately began assessing him as I sprinted down the hill to grab one of the Marine snow sleds that we had seen nearby. I knew that getting him off the cold ground was crucial to slowing down the heat loss from his body, and the sled would allow us to transport him more easily.

By the time I returned, my buddies had managed to remove some of the Marine’s wet layers and wrap him in dry insulation. We placed him on the sled and radioed for medical support. After several minutes, the Marine began to regain consciousness. He was disoriented and weak, but he was alive. The medevac arrived shortly thereafter and transported the Marine to the hospital. The medevac crew later told us that if we hadn’t found him when we did, he would have succumbed to the cold.

This incident taught us that proper clothing management is vital to striking a balance between staying warm and avoiding overheating. It also highlighted the importance of looking out for each other in the field and being prepared to respond to emergencies, no matter how unlikely they may seem. Sometimes, even those trained to endure the harshest environments can find themselves in unexpected trouble. That’s when teamwork and quick thinking can make all the difference.

FYI

Multiple clothing layers allow air to be trapped to provide insulation. Soldiers can remove layers as needed based on their activity level and environmental conditions. The innermost layer that is in contact with the skin must have wicking properties, allowing water vapor to be transmitted to the outer layers for evaporation. Wet clothing will reduce the insulation provided by the layers of clothing. Choose clothing made of polypropylene, fleece, a Gore-Tex shell or other equivalent synthetic materials. Additional tips include:

• Protect the feet by keeping boots and socks clean and dry and changing them if they become wet.
• Protect the hands by wearing gloves or mittens with the appropriate inserts/liners.
• Avoid contacting snow, fuel or bare metal with unprotected hands. Mittens provide greater protection from cold injuries but reduce dexterity.
• Be sure to wear a cap. The head can account for up to 50 percent of the body’s total heat loss (TB MED 508).
• Use the acronym COLD:
  • Keep it Clean.
  • Avoid Overheating.
  • Wear Clothing Loose and in Layers
  • Keep Dry.

The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, with assistance from the Northern Warfare Training Center at Fort Greely, Alaska, has an Arctic Warfare Operations webpage featuring a collection of tools and resources. Check it out at https://safety.army.mil/ON-DUTY/Military-Operations-and-Training/Arctic-Warfare-Operations. For additional cold-weather resources and training information, visit the Northern Warfare Training Center website at https://11thairbornedivision.army.mil/Units/Northern-Warfare-Training-Center/.