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Canadian soldiers fight to survive extreme Afghan heat
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by 158 | July 5, 2009 at 11:31 am
108 views | 2 Recommendations | 4 comments
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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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158
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
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.
at 13:52 on July 5th, 2009
Thanks for the information. I once lived in Arizona and at times summer temperatures would reach 110-120F We did little work in the afternoon.
at 14:41 on July 5th, 2009
Here is a related story on Canadians fighting heat. It describes what the troops go through. Read more here
at 16:31 on July 5th, 2009
Thanks. I will read this