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 TM 55-1905-219-14-2
2-209. LIFE BOATS (Cont).
Everything that can be wrapped about the feet to keep them warm should be used. Every effort should be made to keep
this insulation dry. If available, dry socks should replace those which become wet and the wet ones should be dried for
future use.
If no extra clothing or wrapping is available and the feet get cold, put them under the arms or in the lap of a companion.
Keeping the body warm also aids in keeping the feet warm. Immersion foot should never by treated by rapid heating. No
rubbing should be used for either Immersion foot or frostbite.
FROSTBITE - Frostbite, resulting from freezing of the tissues, ordinarily Will not occur in parts of the body that are
immersed in sea water. Sea water freezes at about 28 (2 ), and a temperature below that is necessary to cause
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frostbite; however, in the vicinity of land masses with temperatures below zero, the hands, face and feet may freeze in
the air - particularly if there is a high wind. Frostbite occurs in temperatures as high as 10 (-12 ), when it is windy.
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Survivors who are chilled, malnourished and wet may suffer frostbite in still higher temperatures because their normal
circulation is curtailed. Measures of preventing frostbite are similar to those for preventing immersion foot. You must
keep the body and exposed parts as warm as possible and avoid interference with the circulation. Since severity of the
damage depends upon the duration and extent of freezing, survivors should examine the suspected parts, such as an
unusually pale ear, for evidence of frostbite. If frostbite has occurred, the part should be thawed by placing it in contact
with a warm part of the body. Friction should not be employed to induce thawing since it may cause further damage to
the frozen tissue.
It is important that, even after rescue, neither immersion foot nor frostbite be treated by friction, by rapid rewarming of
the affected part with hot water, by exposure to hot surfaces, or by other similar means.
DRINKING WATER - In tropical waters dehydration is the principal cause of exhaustion and death of survivors. Under
the most favorable circumstances a man can survive without water for only 8 to 10 days on the average. A man without
food, but supplied with water, may live for 30 days or more. When sweating is held to a minimum, as in semifasting,
men who are sitting still and consuming a small amount of food, the daily requirement of water necessary to prevent the
deterioration of the body's performance is between 16 to 32 ounces (473 to 946 ml). An intake of 16 ounces (473 ml), or
a pint of water a day is regarded as the absolute minimum; however, this is likely to be insufficient to meet the water
needs of some men.
Maximum air temperature of between 85and 95 (29to 35 ), will be encountered in tropical ocean areas. Under
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such conditions, the heating of the body by direct rays of the tropical sun causes loss of the heat from the body by
increased evaporation of perspiration. Even in cool climates some water is inevitably lost from the body as moisture in
the exhaled breath and as water evaporated from the skin.
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