A Research Program on Health, Performance and Cold Protection of Soldiers in Long-Term Combat during Winter

• Main Authors: Col Ari Peitso, Prof Hannu Rintamäki, Dr. Hannu Anttonen, Dr. Jari Latvala
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.214.9473; http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-HFM-124///MP-HFM-124-22.pdf

The information of the effects of cold environment on health and performance of soldiers comes mainly from short-term measurements, which have lasted only for a few hours or maximally a few days. However, it could be expected, that during long-term strenuous combat exercise in winter conditions several factors e.g., physical and mental fatigue, decrease of thermal insulation of clothing due to moisture and dirt, and dehydration may decrease performance. The aim of this research program is to improve military performance in extended military operations in cold conditions. The research is performed in co-operation with Finnish Defence Forces and the Oulu Regional Institute of Occupational Health during years 2003 – 2007 in Northern Finland. The measurements are carried out in ca. two weeks winter combat exercise and in additional laboratory and field measurements. In a two weeks winter manoeuvre in December 2004 the study was carried out in four levels: 1) Soldiers from two companies (n = 319) answered to detailed questionnaires before the exercise, in the middle of the exercise before starting the shooting training, and at the end of the entire exercise. In the first questionnaire the background and expectations were asked. In the later questionnaires the experiences were recorded by the same structure as in the first questionnaire. 2) One platoon (28 subjects) from these