Prevalence of hypothermia and critical hand temperatures during military cold water immersion training

Figures & data

Figure 1. Frequency counts for 96 participants, representing their lowest T_c recorded during CWI training exercises. Value ranges on the x-axis indicate the temperature ranges in which participants’ lowest T_c were recorded (e.g. a T_c of 33.6°C would be placed in the “33, 34” range).

Figure 2. Continuous T_c data (recorded and displayed each minute) from the start of training exercises (i.e. before immersion) to their lowest T_c recorded. The data displayed are only a subset (n = 66) of all participants and demonstrate the significant variability in T_c response to 10-min CWI. Note that Figure 3 calculates hypothermia onset time from the start of immersion (which is displayed as Minute 10 in this figure).

Figure 3. Onset times for critical T_hand (15.0°C and 8.0°C) and hypothermia (35.0°C T_c), which were calculated from the start of immersion (i.e. Minute 0) to the point at which the lowest temperature was recorded.

Note that functional responses for T_hand (i.e. dexterity loss, nerve block) in brackets were not measured. Here this represents the anticipated functional effects of reaching these specific T_hand [6].

Figure 4. Frequency counts for 110 participants, representing their lowest T_hand recorded during CWI training exercises. Value ranges on the x-axis indicate the temperature ranges in which participants’ lowest T_hand were recorded (e.g. a T_hand of 7.2°C would be placed in the “7, 8” range).

Havenith G, Heus R, Daanen HA. The hand in the cold, performance and risk. Arct Med Res. 1995;54 Suppl 2:37–47.

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