HFM-255 "Cold extreme environmental operations" optimizing warfighter performance in extreme cold - momenter fra workshop ved FFI 28.-30. oktober 2014

I dagene 28. til 30. oktober 2014 arrangerte FFI Workshop HFM-255 med tittelen “Cold Extreme Environmental Operations - Optimizing Warfighter Performance in Extreme Cold”. Omkring 40 eksperter innen kulde og kaldværoperasjoner fra ti forskjellige land (Norge, Sverige, Danmark, Finland, Estland, Nederland, Frankrike, England, USA og Canada) deltok. Workshopen var tverrfaglig, og blant deltakerne var det fysiologer, leger, forskere, militære offiserer og representanter for industrien. Dette førte til en livlig og givende utveksling av synspunkter og erfaringer mellom deltakerne som identifiserte områder med spesielt behov for økt innsats på forskning og utvikling. Disse områdene omfattet perifer blodsirkulasjon i kulde, strategier for å minske faren for kuldeskader og bevare den fysiske yteevnen, rekruttering og screening, behandling og rapportering av kuldeskader samt ernæring i felt under vinterforhold. Denne rapporten er et kort sammendrag av anbefalingene.

From Tuesday 28 October through Thursday 30 October 2014 the Workshop HFM-255 “Cold Extreme Environmental Operations - Optimizing Warfighter Performance in Extreme Cold” was held at FFI, Kjeller. Around 40 experts in the field of cold and cold weather operations, representing 10 different NATO and PFP countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, France, The Netherlands, England, USA, and Canada), were represented. The workshop was multidisciplinary, and among the participants were physiologists, medical doctors, scientists, military personnel and representatives from the industry. This led to a lively and productive exchange of views between scientists and military personnel. During the discussions the participants identified research and development opportunities to improve operational effectiveness in cold weather extremes. The identified research gaps included maintaining peripheral blood flow in the cold, strategies for risk mitigation and performance sustainment, recruitment and screening, immediate treatment and reporting of cold-induced injuries, and field feeding in the cold. This report is a summary of the recommendations.