personnel will give adequate protection, if worn continuously. If 

 these become lost or broken, the area about the bridge of the eyes 

 may be blackened with soot or grease to cut down glare. In an 

 emergency, satisfactory goggles may be improvised by making a 

 mask out of a thin piece of wood or cardboard, using narrow slits 

 for vision. A piece of cloth thin enough to see through may be 

 worn over the eyes if nothing else is available. 



If snow blindness results, ophthalmic ointment carried in the 

 survival kit should be freely squeezed between the lids ; and if pos- 

 sible, the eyes should be bandaged until symptoms, such as severe 

 pain, burning of the eyes, tearing, and inability to stand light, have 

 passed. In addition, moist, cold compresses will relieve some of 

 the painful swelling. If mild, the symptoms usually disapper in a 

 few days ; if severe, one may be a casualty of several weeks. Per- 

 sonnel who have once had snow blindness are more susceptible to 

 a recurrence during the following weeks. 



Almost anyone who has lived in the Arctic has been frostbitten 

 at one time or another during extreme weather. The prevention 

 of frostbite demands continual awareness of the possibility when 

 temperatures are below freezing, particularly if there is a wind. 

 The frozen or frostbitten area-usually the face, ears, or wrists — 

 becomes stiff, whitish, and numb. The area will rapidly regain 

 its normal color and sensation if treated immediately by gently 

 warming, as by placing the warm hand over the area or placing 

 frozen fingers inside the clothing. 



Brisk rubbing with or without snow is to be condemned and 

 must not be used. Never immerse a frostbitten foot in cold kero- 

 sene or other liquid. If damage is sustained, a condition compar- 



Figure 6—4. — Emergency eye protection. 



183 



