Fort Bliss Monitor

Summer heat in El Paso can dehydrate, kill quickly

SGT. JERRY ANGUIANO
Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine

Summer is just around the corner and you can rest assured that it probably will be a scorcher.

With temperatures reaching 110 degrees, heat is always a threat to our Soldiers and family members engaged in activities. Studies have shown that the number of heat injuries has seen a general decline since 1987. The “high risk” units are the training schools. This is because of the transitional status from the comfort of civilian life to initial entry training in the military. The pattern for the time of the day with the highest incidence of heat injuries is one with peaks at 8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. This coincides with the physical training schedule on most military installations. Other people at risk are newly assigned Soldiers to units coming from a lower temperate climate.

So what do we need to know to keep ourselves from becoming a dreaded heat casualty? There are a few basic precautions Soldiers and family members can do to reduce the potential for heat injury. Here are a few things to keep in mind this summer:

You must consume enough water to maintain your body’s cooling mechanism. Proper guidance in water consumption is shown here. This is a change from the guidance provided in Field Manual 21-10. Heat injuries are your body’s reaction to excessive loss of fluids. Drink water the evening before major events involving strenuous exercises. Drink water throughout the day following guidance discussed previously.

Avoid diuretics such as alcohol and caffeine. Supplements containing creatine may also increase the risk of heat injury. Although no official information on these supplements has been put out; care should also be taken with any Ephedra-containing products.

Know the symptoms associated with heat injuries. Many of these symptoms overlap among different injuries, and it is very easy to go from one injury to another if no precautions are implemented. Sunburns are a reddening of the skin with pain on movement or touch. In some cases blister may appear. Sunburns typically prevent the body’s cooling mechanism from working properly due to the damaged skin.

Heat cramps are muscle cramps in the extremities and abdomen, accompanied by excessive sweating, and thirst.

Heat exhaustion’s usual symptoms are excessive sweating, cool, clammy skin, headache, dizziness, weakness and loss of appetite. However, some experience heat cramps, nausea, the urge to defecate, chills, rapid breathing, tingling in the hands and feet or confusion.

A heat stroke is a medical emergency. The symptoms are hot and dry skin, weakness, dizziness, confusion, headaches, seizures, nausea, breathing problems and loss of consciousness.

You should know what to do if you find someone with any of these symptoms.

Sunburns can be treated by covering the body part, and applying cold compresses or lotions
When heat cramps occur move the casualty to the shade, loosen clothing, provide at least one quart of cool water. Keep an eye on the casualty, and provide more water if they will drink it.

Seek medical aid if symptoms continue. Heat exhaustion is the same as above, except you may want to pour water over the casualty and fan to cool, elevate the casualty’s legs and monitor until the symptoms go away or medical help arrives.

Monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature heat index and use work rest cycles. The WBGT heat index can be obtained here by calling 569-4328. Remember that body armor or Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear adds 10 degrees to the WBGT heat index. Recommend that Soldiers drink sufficient water in accordance with heat category. Do not force someone to drink water, especially if they are vomiting. Drinking water must be monitored closely with the guidance given below. Soldiers have died due to over consumption of water, causing an imbalance in electrolytes in the body.

Acclimatization is the ability of the body to undergo physiological adaptations so that the Soldier is able to cope better with the environmental and physiological heat stress. Newly enlisted Soldiers are generally not acclimatized adequately to heat. Social habits and norms such as the extensive availability of air-conditioning contribute to this observation.

Therefore, Soldiers in their first six months of training are at higher risk of heat injuries. Heat acclimatization increases sweating by 50 to100 percent, and this enhances the evaporative cooling capacity of the body. Increased sweating, however, can lead to dehydration. Soldiers can adapt to heat but not to dehydration. Physically fit Soldiers acclimatize more rapidly than those less fit.

Heat is a dangerous but manageable adversary. Leaders and supervisors at all levels must use available resources to manage heat stress in the unit or workplace. Strong leader support is the key to prevention of heat related casualties.

For more information regarding the WBGT readings or recommended protective measures, contact Pfc. Ryan C. Van Norman at 569-3619 or Pfc. Lillian A. Bell at 569-3619.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	April 28, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Summer heat in El Paso can dehydrate, kill quickly SGT. JERRY ANGUIANO Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine Summer is just around the corner and you can rest assured that it probably will be a scorcher. With temperatures reaching 110 degrees, heat is always a threat to our Soldiers and family members engaged in activities. Studies have shown that the number of heat injuries has seen a general decline since 1987. The “high risk” units are the training schools. This is because of the transitional status from the comfort of civilian life to initial entry training in the military. The pattern for the time of the day with the highest incidence of heat injuries is one with peaks at 8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. This coincides with the physical training schedule on most military installations. Other people at risk are newly assigned Soldiers to units coming from a lower temperate climate. So what do we need to know to keep ourselves from becoming a dreaded heat casualty? There are a few basic precautions Soldiers and family members can do to reduce the potential for heat injury. Here are a few things to keep in mind this summer: You must consume enough water to maintain your body’s cooling mechanism. Proper guidance in water consumption is shown here. This is a change from the guidance provided in Field Manual 21-10. Heat injuries are your body’s reaction to excessive loss of fluids. Drink water the evening before major events involving strenuous exercises. Drink water throughout the day following guidance discussed previously. Avoid diuretics such as alcohol and caffeine. Supplements containing creatine may also increase the risk of heat injury. Although no official information on these supplements has been put out; care should also be taken with any Ephedra-containing products. Know the symptoms associated with heat injuries. Many of these symptoms overlap among different injuries, and it is very easy to go from one injury to another if no precautions are implemented. Sunburns are a reddening of the skin with pain on movement or touch. In some cases blister may appear. Sunburns typically prevent the body’s cooling mechanism from working properly due to the damaged skin. Heat cramps are muscle cramps in the extremities and abdomen, accompanied by excessive sweating, and thirst. Heat exhaustion’s usual symptoms are excessive sweating, cool, clammy skin, headache, dizziness, weakness and loss of appetite. However, some experience heat cramps, nausea, the urge to defecate, chills, rapid breathing, tingling in the hands and feet or confusion. A heat stroke is a medical emergency. The symptoms are hot and dry skin, weakness, dizziness, confusion, headaches, seizures, nausea, breathing problems and loss of consciousness. You should know what to do if you find someone with any of these symptoms. Sunburns can be treated by covering the body part, and applying cold compresses or lotions When heat cramps occur move the casualty to the shade, loosen clothing, provide at least one quart of cool water. Keep an eye on the casualty, and provide more water if they will drink it. Seek medical aid if symptoms continue. Heat exhaustion is the same as above, except you may want to pour water over the casualty and fan to cool, elevate the casualty’s legs and monitor until the symptoms go away or medical help arrives. Monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature heat index and use work rest cycles. The WBGT heat index can be obtained here by calling 569-4328. Remember that body armor or Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear adds 10 degrees to the WBGT heat index. Recommend that Soldiers drink sufficient water in accordance with heat category. Do not force someone to drink water, especially if they are vomiting. Drinking water must be monitored closely with the guidance given below. Soldiers have died due to over consumption of water, causing an imbalance in electrolytes in the body. Acclimatization is the ability of the body to undergo physiological adaptations so that the Soldier is able to cope better with the environmental and physiological heat stress. Newly enlisted Soldiers are generally not acclimatized adequately to heat. Social habits and norms such as the extensive availability of air-conditioning contribute to this observation. Therefore, Soldiers in their first six months of training are at higher risk of heat injuries. Heat acclimatization increases sweating by 50 to100 percent, and this enhances the evaporative cooling capacity of the body. Increased sweating, however, can lead to dehydration. Soldiers can adapt to heat but not to dehydration. Physically fit Soldiers acclimatize more rapidly than those less fit. Heat is a dangerous but manageable adversary. Leaders and supervisors at all levels must use available resources to manage heat stress in the unit or workplace. Strong leader support is the key to prevention of heat related casualties. For more information regarding the WBGT readings or recommended protective measures, contact Pfc. Ryan C. Van Norman at 569-3619 or Pfc. Lillian A. Bell at 569-3619.