WARM WATER IMMERSION FOOT - STILL A THREAT TO THE SOLDIER

We report a significant incidence of warm water immersion foot (WWIF) in a light infantry battalion during a field exercise, Four hundred so ldiers belonging to this battalion were surveyed to determine the prev alence of the WWIF syndrome. One hundred forty-nine soldiers surveyed developed the WWIF syndrome, The affected soldiers had a wide range of disability, ranging from mild discomfort to the inability to ambulate , All soldiers had full recovery within 2 weeks of the injuries. Altho ugh the syndrome is self-limited, the loss of these soldiers from comb at critically impaired the battalion in its mission, We present this r eport as a reminder that effective preventive measures should be taken prior to field exercises and deployments.