CAP protects cadets from heat-related and cold-related emergencies by following the protective strategies developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Unit commanders, activity directors, and project officers need to familiarize themselves with these standards, monitor the weather conditions every 3 hours, and adjust how they operate when the heat index or wind chill precautions below so dictate.
Hot Weather Guidance
Cold Weather Guidance
Training Intensity Examples
Hot Weather
The key metric is the heat index. The table below shows which training precautions are required for a given heat index. Most smart phones are able to report the heat index for your location. The OSHA - NIOSH Heat Safety Tool is a recommended smart phone app that not only reports your local heat index, but also reports what protective measures you should be following in that environment.
|
85 - 90 deg. F°
Low
|
91 - 103 deg. F°
Moderate
|
103 - 115 deg. F°
High
|
> 115 deg. F°
Extreme
|
- Provide fresh water; use wingmen to monitor intake at 1 cup every 20 minutes; prohibit soda.
- Know location of local hospital / urgent care facility, have vehicle and driver designated, & have means of contacting 911
- Encourage cadets to wear sunscreen
- Closely monitor people who don't live in the area and therefore are not used to hot weather at this time of year
- Ensure cadets rest2 (train/rest in minutes):
- - Low Intensity: 50/10
- - Medium Intensity: 50/10
- - High Intensity: 30/30
- Be prepared to implement the protective measures for higher risk levels, shown below
|
- In addition to the steps prescribed for "Low":
- Reschedule activities for cooler weather, if able
- Use wingmen to monitor water intake at 1 cup every 15 minutes
- At start of day or as conditions change, brief cadets how to recognize heat-related illness, how to prevent it, and what to do if someone gets sick
- Locate cadet activities in shady areas, if possible
- Mandate use of sunscreen, reapplying every 4 hours
- Have wingman watch for heat-related symptoms
- Allow cadets to remove BDU/ABU blouses
- Ensure cadets rest (train/rest in minutes):
- - Low Intensity: 50/10
- - Medium Intensity: 50/10
- - High Intensity: 30/30
|
- In addition to the steps prescribed for "Moderate":
- Alert everyone to presence of high risk conditions
- Prohibit high intensity activities, including fitness testing
- Adjust training activities (e.g., reschedule, lower
- the pace / rotate jobs)
- Use cooling techniques: have cadets take breaks indoors with fans or air-conditioning, and/or provide cold, damp towels
- Have adults exercise closer, line-of-sight super-vision; increase number of adult supervisors
- Watch/communicate with cadets at all times
- Ensure cadets rest (train/rest in minutes):
- - Low Intensity: 30/30
- - Medium Intensity: 20/40
|
- In addition to the steps prescribed for "High":
- Prohibit medium intensity activities
- Minimize outdoor activities; train indoors with fans or air-conditioning
- Conduct travel greater than 200 yards via air-conditioned vehicle, not marching
- Conduct only mission-critical activities outdoors, and ensure cadets rest (train/rest in minutes):
- - Low Intensity: 20/40
|
Hot Weather Notes.
* Heat index temperatures assume that persons have access to shade. If training activities occur in direct sunlight with little to no shade, or if persons will be wearing heavy clothing or protective gear, risks are greater. In those situations, local leaders should consider taking the steps at the next highest risk level.
** For rests, allow participants downtime in the shade or move indoors to continue training.
Cold Weather
The key metric is the wind chill. The table below shows which training precautions are required for a given wind chill. Most smart phones are able to report the wind chill for your location.
|
40 - 20 deg. F
Low
|
20 - 0 deg. F
Moderate
|
(-1) - (-20) deg. F
High
|
< (-21) deg F
Extreme
|
- Cadets must wear a jacket, hat, and gloves or be able to keep hands in pockets
- Training must be conducted
- in mostly dry conditions
- A 20-minute warming break is required every 50 minutes
|
- Cadets must wear a warm base layer, jacket, winter hat with ear protection, and gloves
- Training must be conducted in dry conditions
- A 20-minute warming break is required every 50 minutes
|
- Cadets must wear a warm base layer, jacket, winter hat with ear protection, and gloves
- Training must be conducted in dry conditions
- A 20-minute warming break is required every 30 minutes
|
- No outdoor cadet activities are authorized
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Training Intensity Examples
The hot weather and cold weather guidance above makes reference to training intensity levels. Examples of low, medium, and high intensity training are shown below.
| Low Intensity |
Medium Intensity |
High Intensity |
- Drill and ceremonies
- Rocketry
- Marksmanship training
- Making camp
- Glider ground crews
- Flight line activities
- Similar activities involving little exertion
|
- Hiking with 20 lbs. of gear or less
- Fitness training and sports
- Rappelling
- Leadership Reaction Courses
- Water survival training
- Similar activities that involve moderate exertion and where the tempo can easily be reduced
|
- Fitness testing & exercise at fast pace
- Obstacle courses
- Hiking with 20 or more lbs. of gear
- Similar activities that involve a high degree of exertion and where the tempo cannot easily be reduced
|
Final Thought
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
- Robert Frost
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