Prolonged Field Care Podcast PFC Podcast: Surviving the Freeze: Mastering Cold Weather injuries in PFC
Oct 30, 2025
Ian Wedmore, an emergency physician with a rich background in wilderness and military medicine, dives into the crucial topic of cold-weather injuries. He shares insights on frostbite and trench foot, highlighting their historical significance in military settings. Ian emphasizes prevention measures, such as buddy checks and proper insulation, and discusses the gold standard for frostbite treatment: rapid rewarming. He also explains the difference between frostbite and non-freezing injuries, and the importance of timely evacuation and care in extreme conditions.
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Cold Injuries Have Major Military Impact
- Frostbite and trench foot have historically caused massive military casualties and amputations.
- Modern conflicts have fewer cases but cold injuries remain a real risk in prolonged field care or unexpected cold exposure.
Historical Examples Of Catastrophic Cold Injury
- Ian recounts historical examples: Napoleon's 1812 retreat and WWII amputations for frostbite.
- These stories illustrate how catastrophic cold injuries were in past wars.
Protect Skin From Wind And Do Buddy Checks
- Protect exposed skin from wind and insulate well to prevent frostbite; wind chill only matters for uncovered skin.
- Buddy checks for exposed skin and regular insulation checks reduce cold injury risk.