While cold makes military tasks more difficult, it does not make them impossible. Viewing cold as a challenge to be overcome is the key to the positive attitude required to successfully complete the mission. Soldiers need to be taught that when it is cold, tasks may be more difficult, but they are not impossible. When cold exposure lasts for more than an hour, cooling of the skin and reduced blood flow to the hands leads to blunted sensations of touch and pain and loss of dexterity and agility. This can impair ability to perform manual tasks and lead to more severe cold injuries, since symptoms may go unnoticed.
Feet are particularly vulnerable, and extra foot care is required for cold-weather operations.
Hypothermia victims may show no heartbeat, breathing, or response to touch or pain, when in fact they are still alive. Hypothermia may be difficult to recognize in its early stages of development. Things to watch for include unusually withdrawn or bizarre behavior, irritability, confusion, slowed or slurred speech, altered vision, uncoordinated movements, and unconsciousness. Freezing limited to the skin surface is frostnip . When freezing extends deeper through the skin and flesh, the injury is frostbite .