Non Freezing Cold Injury
Being employed by the Armed Forces is unique, and the environments and circumstances you can be exposed to are outside the normal 9-5.
Spending time working in cold environments, or even sleeping rough can cause ‘trench foot’
Non-Freezing cold injury (NFCI) was first described in Napoleon’s winter campaign in Russia in 1812 . The term ‘trench foot’ was introduced in the First World War. The term ‘immersion foot’ was first used in the Second World War to describe cold water immersion injuries in shipwrecked sailor in lifeboats.
Persistent time in cold and low temperature settings can cause altered sensation and damage to soft tissues in the body, such as fingers, toes and ears – not restricted just to feet!
NFCI has to develop as a result from exposure to moisture to be formally diagnosed, but there are many other conditions that arise from low temperature conditions such as chilblains, cold urticaria, Raynaud’s syndrome and long term ‘pins and needles’
NFCI affects the nerves, and soft tissue and can cause, pain, skin changes and difficulty using that body part, such as numbness when trying to hold items, or the feeling of a ‘dead leg’ when walking.
Severe tissue loss only occurs if NFCI is complicated by pressure necrosis or infection.
Civilians can also be affected, especially those in occupations that can lead to long periods with wet feet, such as fish processers and harbour workers. Exposure to cold wet conditions without replacing wet socks and boots can cause NFCI in recreational activities, such as hiking and mountaineering, and in association with homelessness or alcoholism.
Non-Freezing Cold Injury is mostly present in the veteran community due to the areas they may have been in action. If you are experiencing these conditions, Please contact us for support.
Being employed by the Armed Forces is unique, and the environments and circumstances you can be exposed to are outside the normal 9-5.
Spending time working in cold environments, or even sleeping rough can cause ‘trench foot’
Non-Freezing cold injury (NFCI) was first described in Napoleon’s winter campaign in Russia in 1812 . The term ‘trench foot’ was introduced in the First World War. The term ‘immersion foot’ was first used in the Second World War to describe cold water immersion injuries in shipwrecked sailor in lifeboats.
Persistent time in cold and low temperature settings can cause altered sensation and damage to soft tissues in the body, such as fingers, toes and ears – not restricted just to feet!
NFCI has to develop as a result from exposure to moisture to be formally diagnosed, but there are many other conditions that arise from low temperature conditions such as chilblains, cold urticaria, Raynaud’s syndrome and long term ‘pins and needles’
NFCI affects the nerves, and soft tissue and can cause, pain, skin changes and difficulty using that body part, such as numbness when trying to hold items, or the feeling of a ‘dead leg’ when walking.
Severe tissue loss only occurs if NFCI is complicated by pressure necrosis or infection.
Civilians can also be affected, especially those in occupations that can lead to long periods with wet feet, such as fish processers and harbour workers. Exposure to cold wet conditions without replacing wet socks and boots can cause NFCI in recreational activities, such as hiking and mountaineering, and in association with homelessness or alcoholism.
Non-Freezing Cold Injury is mostly present in the veteran community due to the areas they may have been in action. If you are experiencing these conditions, Please contact us for support.