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Canadian soldiers fight to survive extreme Afghan heat

by 158 | July 5, 2009 at 11:31 am

219 views | 2 Recommendations | 4 comments

We must remember Canadian,

British and other troops are

fighting in Afghanistan, not

just the United States.

And the Afghan heat is only gaining strength, creeping forward day by day like lava from a volcano, as midsummer approaches. July temperatures can climb above 50 C in the shade.

A relentless sun can cause headaches and dizziness, as well as stroke, shock and even cardiac arrest. At its worst, heat illness kills.

No Canadians have died from heat in Afghanistan, although the sun still presents a considerable danger, according to the doctor in charge of Canadian primary care at Kandahar Airfield.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 12:47 on July 5th, 2009

Heat is definitely a problem. Consider yourself in 110F heat in short and t-shirt, now add a flak jacket (armoured protective vest), a helmet, a radio, ammunition, some rations and water. Some will carry spare ammunition for machine guns, perhaps a 60mm mortar, grenades, etc.

Hydration is an ongoing problem, making sure that there is a ready supply of clean potable water.

Canadian troops now do some work up training in Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas.

There is a good series on the Discovery Channel which did a three progam mini series called Combat School. It takes the viewer through the training of Canadian troops for almost one year.