Casualty Warming Device

The Casualty Warming Device (CWD) is a Future Naval Capability product designed to prevent hypothermia among battlefield trauma victims.The consequences of hypothermia for trauma victims is severe and the technical requirements of providing safe warming therapy in the field are challenging, particularly during air transport where an aircraft’s ambient temperature can drop dramatically.

Hypothermia can induce wound infection, hemodynamic stress, cardiac disturbance, coagulopathy, and prolonged and altered drug response. It can increase shivering, pain and thermal discomfort, and the risk of mortality. Personnel injured in the field or in extreme environments may be particularly susceptible because the time between injury and definitive treatment is typically longer than in noncombat situations. The resulting exposure makes hypothermia more likely to occur. 

The Office of Naval Research, as part of its Future Naval Capability program, supported the development of the CWD to keep injured warfighters and personnel warm during evacuation and transport to a medical treatment facility.

The Marine Corps System Command (MCSC) Family of Field Medical Equipment (FFME) Advanced Development and Testing Program received the CWD for operational evaluation testing early in 2010. Completion of testing will finalize the intent to purchase by MCSC/FFME and the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command.