REDUCE RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN MILITARY UNITS
Avoid overcrowding
Maintain proper ventilation, temperature, and humidity.
Control dust.
Make maximum use of sunlight.
Immunize, where applicable.
Practice proper oral hygiene.
3-16. OVERCROWDING
The one factor most closely associated with the incidence of respiratory disease
is overcrowding. Accordingly, every effort is made to prevent or to minimize
overcrowding in troop billets.
a. Relationship Between Overcrowding and Respiratory Disease. Over the
years, the Army has conducted various studies to correlate the incidence of respiratory
diseases with various billeting factors, including floor space per man, length of
association between members of units, and distances between beds. Although the data
are old, the basic principles still apply. The studies indicate that:
The incidence of influenza decreased as the amount of floor space per
soldier increased.
When considering recruits, even with more floor space per soldier, the
incidence of respiratory disease was high.
NOTE: The conclusion was that recruits are more susceptible to respiratory infections
than "seasoned" troops.
b. Minimum Floor space Requirements. Army regulations prescribe minimum
sleeping area requirements for troop billets. Sleeping area is defined as an area that
includes beds, footlockers, wall lockers, and personal articles. Excluded are stairs,
halls, latrines, utility rooms, recreation areas, storage rooms, and other administrative
areas.
(1) Minimum sleeping area for recruits. In view of the increased vulnerability
of recruits to respiratory diseases, Army regulations prescribe a minimum sleeping area
of 72 square feet per basic trainee in training centers, both in peacetime and under
emergency conditions.
(2) Sleeping area for `seasoned" troops. Troops, other than trainees, may be
billeted in less than 72 square feet of sleeping area.
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