We are all exposed, but some are more exposed than others

Abstract

This paper defines functional cold exposure zones that illustrate whether a person is at risk of developing physical performance loss or cold weather injuries. Individual variation in body characteristics, activity level, clothing and protective equipment all contribute to variation in the effective exposure. Nevertheless, with the right education, training, and cold-adapted behaviours the exposure differences might not necessarily lead to increased risk for cold injury. To support the preparation process for cold weather operations, this paper presents a biophysical analysis explaining how much cold exposure risk can vary between individuals in the same environment. The results suggest that smaller persons are prone to be underdressed for moderate activity levels and larger persons are prone to be overdressed. The consequences of these discrepancies place people at different risks for performance loss or cold weather injuries. Nonetheless, even if all are well-dressed at the whole-body level, variation in hand morphology is also expected to influence hand skin temperatures that can be maintained; with smaller hands being more prone to reach skin temperatures associated with dexterity loss or cold weather injuries. In conclusion, this work focusses on bringing cold science to the Arctic warrior, establishing that combating cold stress is not a one size fits all approach.

Human performance and medical treatment during cold weather operations – synthesis of a symposium

“…There is a renewed focus on warfighter characteristics such as body build and body composition to improve personalised predictions. Kingma et al [ 9 ] evaluated the effect of the clothing insulation determined by ISO 1109 on the hand temperatures of three body builds and hand sizes while conducting three levels of activity [ 9 ]. This modelling suggests that individuals with smaller hands will most likely have lower skin temperatures for the same level of cold exposure and activity as individuals with larger hands and individuals with smaller hands might therefore be prone to the loss of dexterity, and at a higher risk of cold injury.…”

Impact of Topical Capsaicin Cream on Thermoregulation and Perception While Walking in the Cold

“…During cold exposures, vessels in the skin vasoconstrict and decrease peripheral shell blood flow to minimize the heat loss gradient and protect core temperature. 1 However, reduced peripheral shell blood flow linearly reduces heat transport to the distal extremities, 2,3 which can contribute to cold weather injury risk. Cold exposures can thus create a conflict at the distal extremities when protecting core temperature becomes imperative.…”