Serving in the military often involves facing hostile conditions. Among the less widely-appreciated physical hazards that military service involves is the temperature. Extreme heat and cold can have a lasting impact on the human body and its ability to function. In the case of cold, there’s the possibility of a non-freezing cold injury, which can have profound physical and psychological effects.
What Is a Non-Freezing Cold Injury?
When the nerves and small blood vessels around the skin are exposed to cold for a long enough time, they can become damaged. This is particularly likely if the affected area is also wet. The affected area might feel cold and numb, and tingling and burning sensations might occur after it’s been warmed up. These can persist and have knock-on effects. The victim might be sensitive to cold, and have difficulty getting to sleep at night.
This injury is distinct from frostbite, and doesn’t require freezing temperatures. It was once commonly known as ‘trench foot’.
The Hidden Toll: How Cold Injuries Can Affect Veterans Long-Term
The worst cold injuries are often the ones that go undiagnosed. You might suffer the symptoms for years, and only later realise that they stem from cold exposure. This realisation might allow you to manage the symptoms, while providing peace of mind. Often, group therapy and counselling might be highly effective in helping to cope with the mental health consequences.
Recognising Your Rights: Support and Resources for Military Personnel
Once you’ve noticed the symptoms of cold exposure, you can take them to the appropriate medical professional. A doctor will be able to tell you whether the symptoms are, in fact, a result of a cold injury. There are also prominent charities set up to support service personnel.
If you have a particular memory of spending time in a snowy or otherwise freezing environment, it might help you to form a causal link between that experience and the resulting injuries.
When to Consider a Compensation Claim
If you’ve sustained an injury while on duty, then you might be able to hold your former employer (in most cases, the government) to account through the court system. While service personnel are expected to face harsh conditions and danger, they are entitled to a reasonable level of protection. If the appropriate gloves and warm clothing were not provided, then it might be that the employer failed in its duty of care.
The best way to establish this for sure, of course, is to seek out a solicitor with particular experience with this kind of injury. They will be able to pursue compensation on your behalf.
