Field Sanitation Flashcards
What is the mission of the Unit Field Sanitation Team?
To assist commanders in maintaining the health and the well-being of the soldiers assigned to the unit.
Accomplished by:
-performing arthropod and rodent management control measures within the unit area
-supervising the disinfection of unit bulk water supplies and monitoring residual chlorine levels
Who makes up the Unit Field Sanitation Teams?
One NCO and one enlisted soldier. Soldiers appointed to field sanitation teams should have at least 6 months of service remaining with the unit after completion of certification training.
In nits with organic medical personnel, the NCO should be a medical NCO
The rigors of extended deployments and conducting operations in austere environments present significant challenges to a soldier’s ability to maintain basic standards of hygiene and sanitation- what are some of the health threats to soldiers in the field?
Endemic diseases
Food and waterborne diseases
Entomological hazards (nuisance pests and disease-carrying vectors)
Toxic industrial materials (industrial and agricultural)
Deployment-related stress
Hazardous noise
Climatic or environmental extremes (heat, cold, wind-blown sand, or other particulates)
AR 40-5 states that every soldier is responsible for his own well-being and that he will implement and employ all protective measures possibly to preserve his health- what will each soldier, at minimum, protect against?
Heat injury-follow work/rest and water consumption guidelines, by properly adhering to uniform wear policies, and by using sunscreen on exposed body parts
Cold injury-wear proper cold-weather clothing and frequently changing socks to keep feet dry, by careful handling of gasoline-type liquids, and by avoiding contact between skin and cold metal
Mosquito, fly, tick (anthropodborne diseases)by using insect repellent, netting, and insecticide aerosols; by taking approved chemoprophylaxis; and by wearing the uniform properly
Enteric diseases by using water purification tablets whenever water quality is uncertain and by avoiding foods prepared by unapproved food vendors, and by properly disposing of bodily wastes
Skin diseases by washing the body as often as practicable
What is one of the most effective practices that soldiers can perform to protect themselves and others from the spread of diseases?
To thoroughly wash or sanitize their hands frequently
Soldiers who fail to wash their hands frequently increase the risk of spreading germs picked up from other sources, and infecting others.
When should a soldier wash and/or sanitize the hands, at minimum?
- before eating/snacking
- after eating/snacking
- before handling and/or preparing food
- after using the latrine
- after handling anything that could potentially transfer germs
- frequently during the work day to keep hands germ-free
- after coming into contact with any local flora or fauna
- after physical contact with local nationals
What must soldiers do to avoid potential heat injury?
Soldiers must become acclimatized (at least 3-5 days. Full acclimatization can take up to 2 weeks)
Use sunscreen on all exposed body parts
Drink plenty of water, depending on heat/activity level, soldiers may need to drink from 1/2 to 1 1/2 quarts of water per hour. 3 gallons or 12 quarts per day in hot, dry climates
Use work/rest cycles, as leaders direct-a rest period helps prevent dangerous increases in body temperatures by minimizing heat production
Eat all meals to replace salts; eating all meals in the field will usually provide the body’s requirements for salts-field rations are designed to meet the daily requirements for mineral and electrolytes
Modify the uniform, when directed/authorized by the commander to reduce heat stress and to protect against UV radiation
What must soldiers do to avoid potential cold injury?
- Wear clothing as directed by commanders and leaders
- Wear clothing in loose layers. Avoid tight clothing, including tight underwear
- Keep clothing clean and dry
- Remove or loosen excess clothing when working or in heated areas to prevent sweating
- Wear headgear to prevent body heat loss-the body loses large amounts of heat through the head
- Change wet/damp clothes as soon as possible
- Keep the body warm by continuing to move, if possible
- Exercise large muscle groups (arms, shoulders, trunk, legs) frequently to keep warm
- If soldiers must remain in a small area, exercise the toes, fee, fingers and hands
- Avoid standing directly on cold, wet ground
- Avoid tobacco products. (tobacco decreases blood flow to the skin)
- Eat all meals to maintain energy
- Drink plenty of water and/or warm nonalcoholic fluids
- Buddies should monitor each other for cold-weather injury
Do not attempt to rewarm frozen body parts unless under medical supervision
What is the body’s normal response to the cold?
For the blood vessels in the skin and remote parts of the extremities to constrict and conserve warmed blood for the vital organs.
How much of needed sleep will sustain a soldier’s performance indefinitely?
7-8 hrs of sleep in a 24 hr period. Sleep periods do not need to be taken all at one time; they can be divided into two or more sleep periods per 24 hr period as long as 7 or more hours are obtained.
What is probably the most important item of supply to a military force?
Water
What are the rules of water discipline?
- Drink water from approved sources only
- Prevent water waste
- Protect water sources with good sanitary practices
What is potable water?
Water from a source that has been treated and approved by preventive medicine personnel to meet the short-term potability or long-term potability standards, and is therefore considered safest to drink for the period that the standards apply
(may or may not be palatable)
What is non-potable water?
Water from an untreated source or treated source (including bottled water) that is not safe to drink-in the operational environment, water from any source that has not been tested and determined to be safe by preventive medicine personnel or another local medical authority for use as drinking water is considered non-potable
What is palatable water?
Water that is cool, aerated, significantly free from color, turbidity, taste, and odor, and is generally pleasing to the senses.
In terms of water, what is disinfection?
A water treatment process in which pathogenic (disease-producing) organisms are destroyed or otherwise inactivated-common methods of disinfecting include boiling, UV radiation, and various procedures using chlorine, chlorine dioxide, iodine, or ozone.
(preferred method in US-chlorination)
Essentially, what are two sources of water found in the field?
Raw water sources: fresh or seawater that has not been previously used, treated or purified
Other water sources: approved for use by preventive medicine personnel
What are pathogens?
Biological agents that cause disease or illness to its host - waterborne pathogens can cause diseases that constitute a serious health threat to soldiers in the field