(5) Evacuate. Evacuate the casualty to a medical treatment facility as soon
as possible. Handle the casualty gently.
Section II. ENVIRONMENTAL HEAT INJURIES
4-7.
INTRODUCTION
a. Command Responsibility. Prevention of heat injury is a command
responsibility and function.
b. The Staff Surgeon's Responsibility. The staff surgeon is responsible for
recommending the initiation of measures to safeguard health and for supervising the
execution of these measures.
c. The Result of Failure to Take Preventive Measures. Failure to take proper
preventive measures can result in heavy loss of manpower.
Example. A battalion arrived at Qui Nhon, Vietnam, after 18 days aboard a ship.
The men were brought into an area of inadequate water and shade, and
they began work as if at their home station.
In the first 72 hours, approximately 100 men were treated for heat
The situation was especially bad because medical supplies had not been
unloaded.
Knowledge and proper planning would have prevented these casualties.
4-8.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING HEAT LOSS
The environmental conditions to which troops must adapt can vary greatly. Troops
participating in maneuvers near the Soviet border may encounter the extremes of the
Arctic cold. On the other hand, troops participating in maneuvers in the Middle East
must adapt to the extremes of equatorial heat. Exposure to high environmental
temperature produces stress on the body, which may lead to illness and disability. Let's
look at the factors that can impact negatively on the soldier exposed to heat stress.
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