canadian soldier frostbite and hypothermia

WHAT MANY PEOPLE THINK OF THE USE OF OUTSIDE LABELS ON CLOTHING

Jerry,

Interesting comment you made regarding outside garment labels: "I have never believed in using my customers as bill boards the way all of the other companies do." I appreciate that. I truly despise the gaudy named labels and symbols plastered onto the outside of most other garments. I do not pledge my allegiance to them. When shopping, I "always" choose clothing with the least identifiable or barely visible or non-existing outside labeling. For example, my Wiggy's Supplex Vest and Wiggy's Supplex Sweater can be dressed up or dressed down to tastefully keep me warm at any occasion. :-)

Michael

More Useful Than I Expected!

I bought one of these several years ago to use as a nightlight for my son on our first camping trip together. He was about two at the time and I figured being able to see a little light inside the tent would ease him into the whole camping idea.

Returning from a successful trip I tossed it on my dresser until I figured out a good place to keep it. Over the next few nights I realized that with just the room light charging it while laying on my dresser I could see it all night long. It didn’t necessarily light up the room, but was easy to see.

The next night I put it on my nightstand and put my glasses on top of it. Sure enough all night long I could easily locate my glasses!

If I charge it up for even a few seconds it lights up the corner of the room, but most nights it’s just a constant dim glow that make my glasses instantly visible!

In my dark mountain valley there is no light beyond what I’m making so having something always on that makes my glasses and what have you instantly at hand has shown itself to be very useful!

SD

When I started selling the perpetual lights they made a big hit but over the past couple of years sales have subsided. I still inventory then because I believe they are an excellent product and as you have just read they have a multiple ways of being used. There is no telling how long they will last since they never run out of energy since they get it from any light source.

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS SENT TO ME BY A READER.

Once you have read the article I will tell you why the problems took place.

“Monday, January 28, 2019, 3:59 PM - About 20 Canadian Armed Forces members suffered frostbite, and some required hospitalization, following a military training session near Petawawa, Ont., held earlier this month in extremely cold weather.

On Jan. 17-18, nearly 120 soldiers with the Royal Canadian Dragoons participated in basic winter survival training while the temperature dropped to –31^oC.

The soldiers, part of the immediate response unit (IRU) vanguard, left in the morning on a 12-kilometre march and returned the next day after spending the night outside.

Approximately 20 soldiers reported frostbite or minor hypothermia, and "a very small number" had to be hospitalized for more serious cold-related injuries, said public affairs officer Capt. Daniel Mazurek.

Mazurek said medical staff and ambulances were present during the training to provide care. The frostbite cases were treated immediately, he said, and soldiers with more pressing injuries were taken to hospital.

Some of the equipment that Canadian Armed Forces soldiers brought with them during the winter survival training exercise, which took place while the temperature dropped to –31^oC. Credit: Jeff Smith

No amputations were necessary, Mazurek said, and all the soldiers sent to hospital have now returned home or are back at work.

'WE MUST ACCEPT SOME RISKS'

Maj. Kevin Wong was one of the soldiers taking part in the training. He said it was a "no-notice exercise," meaning they were only told it was taking place only a few hours beforehand.

"We do this more than once a year." Wong told Radio-Canada.

"We train for the worst-case scenario [in] the harshest conditions, whether it's cold or hot, whether it's on land or near water. We have to be ready to respond to the needs of Canadians."

Mazurek said that IRU soldiers are required to tackle emergencies like floods or ice storms "on a moment's notice," and therefore exercises in such extreme conditions, while difficult, are also necessary.

"Our job is to protect Canadians, regardless of the environment or situation," he said. "To prepare for this incredible responsibility we must accept some risks."

'SERIOUS LACK OF LEADERSHIP'

Retired colonel Michel Drapeau, however, said he believes the soldiers were exposed to significant risk.

"It is a serious lack of leadership, and we should not put our young people at risk in this way," he said.

About 20 Canadian Armed Forces soldiers suffered frostbite during a winter training exercise that began on Jan. 17, 2019. Credit: Jeff Smith

Nevertheless, Drapeau agreed that Canadian troops must be ready to operate and survive in Arctic climates, hence the importance of training in harsh conditions.

"Canadian soldiers are trained for this kind of exercise — and are much better equipped than the general population — but sometimes commanders want to push their troops," Drapeau said.

"There is a fine line between pushing their soldiers … and abusing their power as commanders."

Richard Blanchette, a retired major-general and the chair of the Royal Canadian Legion's defence and security committee, said that the injuries sustained by the soldiers during the training were not "normal."

Blanchette said those types of injuries can occur when training conditions are extremely difficult — but also if the equipment wasn't suitable for the situation.”

Now that you have read the entire article it is important to know the last sentence is the most important of all; “the equipment wasn’t suitable for the situation”.

The most important piece of equipment they should have been carrying is their sleeping bag and if it will not work at -31 C it is “not suitable for the situation”!!!

In the early 2000’s a large group of Chilean soldiers died of hypothermia because in my opinion they were issued sleeping bags “not suitable for the situation”.

About the same time frame the US SEALS had a small group of trainees in Alaska training in the boondocks of Fort Richardson and they were bogged down by sudden severe cold and 12 or 12 had to be medevac’d out due to a hypothermic situation. They had been issued sleeping bags “not suitable for the situation”.

In all situations the soldiers were doing fine so long as they were moving and active. Once they were sedentary they started to cool down and when the temperature is in the (–) degree territory chilling does take in a very short period of time.

Keep in mind these young men are wearing several layers of clothing that they via their movements have given off significant amounts of moisture which has gone into their clothing. Once there the moisture is like a sponge for heat and since the body is the source it loses the heat to the moisture quickly. The only way to stop the process of losing heat is by getting into a sleeping bag that will stop the flow of heat out of the bag and ultimately drive the moisture out of the bag. In virtually every situation from these three to so many more the problem is always the same; the use of sleeping bags “not suitable for the situation”!!

Since the torso is subject to the greatest amount of moisture trapped in the clothing the torso is affected first. As the torso chills the bodies involuntary mechanism will start restricting blood flow to the extremities (hands and feet) so the frost bite takes place with the digits first. It matters not that you are in a tent. When the outside temperature is -31 degrees outside the tent it is -31 degrees inside the tent.

The only saving grace is a sleeping bag that “IS SUITABLE FOR THE SITUATION”!!!

None of the military or civilian employees of the military who are tasked to work in the area of cold weather products for the soldiers to use need listen to me; after all I have (I just calculated) is 58 years of acquired knowledge of insulations, manufacturing expertise, testimonials from hundreds of people as well as my own experience being in the outdoors during the coldest months of the year for many years. My insulation LAMILITE made from CLIMASHIELD is the only insulation on the planet that never fails to perform when the proper weights are used for the specific temperatures. I believe without question 100 years from now there will not be anything to come close let-a-lone surpass it. The same holds true for the method of manufacturing. There are no other products called sleeping bags that are even remotely close to having the performance capability of what I produce. Even at my age 77 years I would gladly go into the mountains and I’ll use what I make and you can use whatever you want and we will see who sleeps versus who doesn’t. The temperature should be at the very least -30 degrees F.

The density of the fiber weights that I use directly influences the retention of heat coming from the body of the person laying in one of my bags which in turn causes the moisture to vaporize and therefore is driven out of the bag. The vaporized moisture moves to the colder temperature outside of the bag. Note the frost that develops on the outside of Wiggy’s cold weather bags. The action just described does not now, has ever or will ever happen with any other material used as insulation in a sleeping bag or any other insulated product.

The reality for the Canadian military is to understand that your soldiers are human beings and regardless if they are wearing the military uniform they are still humans and are subject to the cold just like civilians are and if these men are going to perform their job of keeping the nation safe they have to be provided with proper equipment to do just that.