A Survey of Accidental Hypothermia Knowledge among Navy Members in China and the Implications for Training

Shuang Li, Chen Qiu, Wenwen Shi, Yan Huang and Li Gui
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Shuang Li: Emergency Nursing Department, School of Nursing, 2nd Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Chen Qiu: Emergency Nursing Department, School of Nursing, 2nd Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Wenwen Shi: Emergency Nursing Department, School of Nursing, 2nd Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Yan Huang: Emergency Nursing Department, School of Nursing, 2nd Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Li Gui: Emergency Nursing Department, School of Nursing, 2nd Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Objectives : Accidental hypothermia (AH) is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to significant morbidity and life-long effects. Navy personnel are always at a greater risk of AH due to frequent outdoor work, wilderness exposure, prolonged immobility and exhaustion. The purpose of the survey was to assess Chinese Navy members’ awareness of AH and to make recommendations with regard to better measures for improving it. Methods : 111 Navy members completed a written questionnaire that was subsequently analyzed. Results : 30.6% of the respondents have experienced AH and 64.9% rated their knowledge of AH as “low” or “none”. Over half of them identified the initial symptom of AH as obvious shivering (69.4%) and apathy (45.0%). As for the aggravate symptoms, 60.9% chose the wrong answer of more obvious shivering instead of the right one—absence of shivering (5.4%). In the case of the treatment of mild AH, more than half of the respondents chose the wrong answers. Conclusions : This study suggests that the basic skills of recognition and treatment of AH are inadequate in the Chinese Navy. Further work is required to develop a systematical, comprehensive and corresponding education method that would promote correct actions during AH.

Keywords: accidental hypothermia; AH; Navy; health survey; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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