NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK

■ MEDEVAC as soon as possible.
Prevention
■ Ensure that stoves and lanterns are functioning properly.
■ Use stoves and lanterns in well-ventilated areas.
■ Ensure that tents are well-ventilated.
■ Make sure vent holes are used in snow shelters.
■ Do not warm yourself by engine exhaust.
Snow Blindness. Snow blindness is a temporary visual disturbance
caused by ultraviolet radiation reflected from the snow into the eyes.
The danger of snow blindness is greater on a cloudy day than it is on a
clear day because one does not have brightness as a warning. Symptoms
appear 2 to 12 hours after exposure and includes a gritty and painful
feeling in the eyes, tears flow excessively, headache, blurred vision
and objects develop pinkish tinge.
Treatment
■ Rest in darkness.
■ Cover eyes with cool bandage.
■ Analgesics or sedatives.
■ The injury will usually heal itself from 1 to 5 days.
Wounds. In cold weather, casualties should be given first aid treatment,
protected from the cold and shock effects, and evacuated to an aid station
without delay. They should be placed in a casualty bag, sleeping
bag, or the best available substitute. Remember also that wounds bleed
easily because the low temperature keeps blood from clotting.
Increased bleeding increases the likelihood of shock.
Wounds open to weather freeze quickly. The body loses heat in the area
around the injury, as blood soaks the skin around the wound, and clothing
is usually torn. Therefore, early first aid treatment becomes even
more important at low temperatures.
Shock. Shock is caused by reduction of the effective circulating blood
volume. Shock can be caused by severe injuries, loss of blood, pain, and
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