USAF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE GUIDANCE FOR OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

File: aabiw_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 3
SUBJECT:  USAF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE GUIDANCE FOR OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

    BASE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
           390 COSQ/DONA
    
    STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND   (UNIT TOTAL:   003)
    INFO: SG (03)
    INFO: FILE COPY (01) E B STRATEGIC HOSPITAL (04)
  
   042000Z DEC 90
   FM HQ USAF B0LLING AFB DC.//SGPA//
    SECTION I OF 2
    
    SUBJECT:  PREVENTIVE MEDICINE GUIDANCE FOR OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
    
    REFERENCE: USCINCCENT,CCSG, . MESSAGE 150940Z NOV 90, SAME SUBJECT.
    QUOTE
    
    1. THIS GUIDANCE APPLIES TO UNITS DEPLOYING TO DESERT SHIELD.
    VIGOROUS AND EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE MEDICINE PROGRAMS WILL BE
    ESTABLISHED AND CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SERVICE
    DIRECTIVES AND REGULATIONS. PARTICIPATING UNITS WILL IDENTIFY
    PREVENTIVE MEDICINE REQUIREMENTS AND ENSURE TRAINING/CERTIFICATION OF
    FIELD SANITATION TEAMS [FST] . IN ADDITION, UNITS WILL IDENTIFY AND
    TRANSPORT SUPPLIES. EOUIPMENT REQUIRED TO PROPERLY EXECUTE FIELD
    SANITATION MISSION. PARTICULAR ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO:
    
    A. PREVENTION OF HEAT INJURIES. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WILL
    BE MONITORED UTILIZING WBGT INDEX AND APPROPRIATE WORK/REST CYCLES
    EMPLOYED. TO AVOID DEHYDRATION, WATER INTAKE MUST BE MONITORED AND
    ENFORCED. THIRST IS NOT AN ACCURATE INDICATOR OF HYDRATION. SKIN
    PROTECTION OF EXPOSED PARTS OF THE BODY NECESSITATES THE USE OF
    SUNSCREEN WITH SUNSCREEN PROTECTION FACTOR [SPF] IS OR GREATER.  HOT
    CLIMATE. LIPSTICK, ANTI-CHAP [WITH SUNSCREEN] WILL BE USED FOR  LIP
    PROTECTION. EYE PROTECTION WILL REQUIRE THE USE OF SUNGLASSES AND
    GOGGLES SHOULD BE USED IN THE WINTER DURING WINDY CONDITIONS. HEAD
    COVER WILL BE UTILIZED.
    B. PERSONAL HYGIENE. ENTERIC DISEASES SUCH AS DIARRHEA AND
    HEPATITIS ARE EASILY SPREAD DURING FIELD CONDITIONS. THE MOST
    EFFECTIVE MEANS TO PREVENT SUCH DISEASES IS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO WASH
    THEIR HANDS FREQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE USE OF LATRINES AND
    BEFORE EATING. HAND WASHING FACILITIES NEED TO BE AVAILABLE NEAR
    LATRINES AND BY MESS FACILITIES.
    
    C. WATER OUALITY. WATER FROM MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS WILL BE
    CONSIDERED NONPOTABLE UNLESS APPROVED BY U. S. MILITARY MEDICAL
    AUTHORITIES. ALL WATER WILL BE TESTED PRIOR TO USE. WATER MUST BE
    DRAWN FROM APPROVED SOURCES.
    
    D. ENTERIC DISEASE PREVENTION. INFECTIOUS GASTROINTESTINAL
    DISEASES HAVE PRESENTED THE SINGLE, LARGEST INFECTIOUS THREAT TO
    DEPLOYED FORCES IN OPERATION DESERT SHIELD.    ALL FOOD SUPPLIES ARE TO
    BE PURCHASED THROUGH APPROVED SOURCES. ALL PRODUCE MUST BE CLEANED
    BY HYPERCHLORINATION BEFORE SERVING.  HAND WASHING IS AGAIN
    EMPHASIZED. 
    
    E. WASTE DISPOSAL.
    
    [1] WASTE DISPOSAL IS VERY IMPORTANT AS A PRIMARY PREVENTIVE
    MEASURE TO DETER THE THREAT POSED BY ANIMALS, SUCH AS WILD DOGS, AND
    INSECTS.
    [2] STRICT ADHERENCE TO PROPER MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN WASTE   IS
    ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. LATRINE FACILITIES MUST BE UTILIZED AND
    MAINTAINED. APPROPRIATE WASTE DISPOSAL/REMOVAL METHODS MUST BE
    UTILIZED.
    
    F. INSECT [VECTOR] CONTROL.
    
    [1] INSECT CONTROL IS INTIMATELY RELATED TO ISSUES OF MESS
    SANITATION AND WASTE DISPOSAL.  AREA INSECTICIDE SPRAYING SHOULD BE
    UTILIZED ONLY WHEN OTHER BASIC MEASURES HAVE BEEN USED, AND WHEN
    SPRAYING IS DEEMED NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE BY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
    PREVENTIVE MEDICINE PERSONNEL.
    
    [2] INDIVIDUAL/PERSONAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST VECTORS
    ARE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE WHEN UTILIZED. PROPER WEAR OF THE DESERT
    BATTLE DRESS UNIFORM [DSDU] WILL PREVENT MANY BITES/STINGS BY VECTORS
    [I. E., KEEP BOOTS BLOUSED AND SHIRT SLEEVES ROLLED DOWN]. THE USE OF
    INSECT REPELLENT IS MANDATORY WHEN MOSQUITOES AND FLIES ARE PRESENT.
    DEFENSE GENERAL SUPPLY CENTER [DGSC], RICHM0ND, STOCKS THE NEW,