6 MI6 MI · TRAINING
Military training safety
Heat illness · Cold injuries · Climatic risks · Exertional collapse
ACT IMMEDIATELY
Stop training. Get help. Stay with the casualty.
Call 999 or 112 for an unresponsive person, suspected heatstroke, suspected hypothermia, seizure, chest pain or severe breathing difficulty. Activate the unit emergency action plan and summon the medic/first aider. Give the precise location and access instructions; send someone to meet responders.
- Make the scene safe. Check responsiveness. Call on speaker immediately if unresponsive; assess breathing while the call connects.
- If unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED as soon as available. Gasping or panting may be abnormal. Follow the call handler. Use 30 compressions to 2 breaths if trained; otherwise continuous chest compressions.
- If breathing normally but unresponsive, maintain the airway, use the recovery position when appropriate and monitor continuously. Tell the dispatcher about any injury or cold exposure. Do not give anything by mouth.
Source: Resuscitation Council UK · 2025 adult basic life support ↗
British Army and Defence policy documents
JSP 375, Volume 1, Chapter 41: Heat illness prevention covers heat risk and exertional collapse. Chapter 42: Cold injury prevention covers hypothermia, freezing and non-freezing cold injury. Read the directives and relevant annexes for the activity.
Use the official publication pages for current policy and supporting annexes.
AGAI Volume 1, Chapter 7 provides the Army physical training policy context. Consult the current controlled copy through MOD access. Use that controlled edition for Army-specific requirements alongside JSP 375.
A practical awareness guide for personnel and PTIs. Use alongside current Defence policy, first-aid training, medical direction and the activity risk assessment. It does not authorise training or replace the unit emergency action plan.
Heat illness and exertional heatstroke
Early warning signs include unusual fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, cramps and heavy sweating. Stop activity, move to shade, remove unnecessary kit and begin cooling. Give cool drinks only if fully alert and able to swallow. Get medical advice; escalate if worsening or not improving.
Confusion, loss of coordination, seizure or collapse during exertion may indicate severe heat illness. Call 999 immediately and cool at once. Do not wait 30 minutes or for a thermometer reading.
Use shade, remove excess clothing/equipment, wet exposed skin and fan continuously. Trained teams with the appropriate equipment should use their cold-water immersion protocol for severe exertional heat illness, protecting the airway and monitoring the casualty. Begin available cooling immediately while help is arranged.
Heat illness can happen in UK conditions and with exertion even when the air feels cool. A person may still be sweating: sweating does not rule out exertional heatstroke.
Source: NHS · heat exhaustion and heatstroke ↗
Source: Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care · exertional heat illness consensus (2024) ↗
Prevent heat illness
Plan acclimatisation, workload, clothing/load, work–rest periods, shade, water, medical support and cooling. Consider recent illness, previous heat illness, fitness, fatigue and medication with medical advice. Adjust or stop as conditions change.
Use the current JSP 375 Annex C work/rest guidance and Annex F hydration guidance. A weather app, ambient temperature or online WBGT estimate cannot by itself establish that training is safe. Use the required on-site monitoring and risk-assessment process.
Cold injuries
Hypothermia · a medical emergency
Look for shivering, clumsiness, slurred speech, confusion, drowsiness or slow breathing. Call 999 for suspected hypothermia. Move to shelter, handle gently, replace wet clothing and insulate from the ground with dry layers and head covering. Stay with them and monitor breathing.
A warm non-alcoholic drink and food are suitable only if fully awake and swallowing safely. Do not rub limbs or use a hot bath, hot water bottle or direct heat.
Source: NHS · hypothermia ↗
Freezing cold injury · frostbite
Numbness, hard or frozen skin, unusual pallor, swelling or blisters need urgent medical help. Shelter and protect the affected part; remove constricting items carefully. Do not rub or use a fire, radiator or hot water bottle. Arrange evacuation and follow medical advice on rewarming.
Source: NHS · frostbite ↗
Non-freezing cold injury · NFCI
Prolonged cold and wet exposure can injure hands or feet without freezing. Report numbness, tingling, pain or altered sensation early. Stop exposure, shelter, dry and protect the affected area and seek medical assessment. Do not rub or apply direct heat; follow the MOD cold-injury first-aid guidance.
Prevent cold injuries
Plan dry spare clothing and socks, suitable layers, shelter, food, rest and exposure limits. Manage sweating; inspect hands and feet and use buddy checks. Cold injuries can occur outside winter. Review restrictions and previous cold injury with medical staff.
Source: JSP 375, Volume 1, Chapter 42 · cold injury policy, individual guide and field assessment tool ↗
Exertional collapse
Collapse is a sign, not a diagnosis. Stop activity and assess immediately using the emergency actions above. Do not assume it is simply dehydration or exhaustion; do not make the person walk it off.
Overhydration and low sodium
Excessive drinking can cause dangerous low blood sodium. Headache, vomiting, confusion or loss of consciousness can resemble heat illness. Do not force fluids into an unwell casualty. Confusion, seizure or reduced consciousness require emergency help.
Plan fluid provision against workload and conditions using MOD guidance; more water is not always safer. Do not use a single compulsory drinking volume for everyone or give salt tablets without medical supervision.
Source: JSP 375 Chapter 41, Annex F · hydration and overhydration ↗
Exertional rhabdomyolysis
Severe muscle pain beyond expected soreness, marked weakness or tea/cola-coloured urine after exertion need immediate medical assessment. Stop exercise. Do not wait for every symptom to appear. Call 999 if collapsing or seriously unwell; diagnosis requires clinical testing.
Other climatic risks
Sun and UV exposure
Use shade, suitable clothing and at least SPF 30 sunscreen with good UVA protection; reapply regularly and after sweating. Cloud and cool air do not remove UV risk.
Source: NHS · sun safety ↗
Thunderstorms, wind and heavy rain
Check warnings and a safe shelter/withdrawal route before outdoor training. If thunder is heard, move to a substantial enclosed building or enclosed vehicle. Avoid isolated trees, exposed high ground and water. Reassess terrain, visibility and access after heavy rain or ice; change or stop the activity when controls are inadequate.
Source: Met Office · lightning safety ↗
Before military training
- Brief the risk assessment, stop signals, buddy checks and how to report symptoms without delay.
- Confirm weather, ground conditions, appropriate kit, exposure, workload and rest arrangements.
- Confirm trained first aiders, medical cover, communications, casualty evacuation, exact rendezvous/access point and AED location for the actual venue.
- Have water, shelter, warming/cooling capability and transport appropriate to the assessed risks.
- Check personnel restrictions, illness and readiness through the appropriate unit process.
For Upavon, Trenchard Lines or any off-site training area, confirm the venue-specific emergency plan before starting. Do not assume another location’s routes or equipment apply.
After an incident
Arrange medical assessment and follow-up. Notify the chain of command and report through the unit safety-occurrence process; record the activity, conditions, symptoms and actions taken. Reassess the risk to everyone still training. Return to activity requires the appropriate clinical advice and unit process.
Policy editions: heat prevention · May 2025; cold injury prevention · December 2024. Check the official publication pages for current annexes.