EFFECTS OF PARTIAL COLD WATER IMMERSION ON MAN IN THE ARCTIC

• Main Author: Veghte,James H.
• Other Authors: ARCTIC AEROMEDICAL LAB FORT WAINWRIGHT ALASKA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1963
• Subjects: *EXPOSURE(PHYSIOLOGY); LEGS; FROSTBITE; COUNTERMEASURES; BODY TEMPERATURE; SHOES; HUMANS; TEMPERATURE; FREEZING; WATER; Arctic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0419817; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0419817

Experiments were conducted to determine how critical a hazard to man partial cold water immersion would be during the Arctic winter and how long a time would be available before frostbite could be expected. At ambient temperatures ranging from -2 to -45 F, subject's right leg was immersed to the knee in water for 10 seconds, after which the subject either stood at rest or exercised. Twenty-four skin temperature measurements were recorded every two minutes, and experiments were terminated when any skin temperature reached 40 F. Data indicate that footgear should not be removed after accidental partial cold water immersion and that, even with no activity, a person has approximately 30 minutes before any danger of frostbite occurs. Exercising or walking greatly prolongs tolerance time and, even at very low temperatures, one may walk for hours before the foot temperature becomes dangerously low. (Author)