How Goes It LETTER, Feb 91

File: 110196_aacaa_03.txt
Page: 03
Total Pages: 5


 
          products have been of acceptable quality, and with the exception of
          some discolored meats, have not required rejection or throwing out.
          A local bakery requesting a contract with this base was originally
          rejected due to a major structural defect which allowed gold to
          grow on the walls. The defective room was remodeled, and subse-
          quently approved by our EHO technician, and later by the Army vet
           erinary services. MOBS are also monitored at this base for
          quality, temperature storage, and dates of expiration. Food
          service at this base is contracted. Food handler physicals were
          performed on approximately 40 individuals to obtain 20 needed
          employees. A physical exam, chest X-ray, and stool specimen were
          obtained. Disqualifications were equally divided for stool
          parasites, abnormal cheat X-rays, and poor hygiene (especially
          oral). Disqualified workers were referred to local physicians for
          treatment.

          9. The arrival of the 111th Army Reserve Contingency Hospital
          at a nearby site provided sub-specialty consultant as well as some
          staging concerns for anticipated aeroevacuation casualties. The
          availability of an ophthalmologist , urologist, and a full time or--
          thopedist was a particularly valuable addition to our delivery of
          medical care. Patients with these problems had been previously
          airlifted or seen by specialists at the host-nation hospital. The
         air-evacuation system. It has been anticipated that patients would
          arrive at this air base (OMAD) and be transported by ground ambu-
          lance However, no aeromedical staging facility is located at this
          base.  Current arrangements are for a nine member team to man a two
          section temper tent prior to and during patient on and off loading.
          Our clinic has agreed to provide any back-up response for emergen-
          cies and unexpected arrivals.
 
          10. Aeromedical concerns centered around clearest, altered
          circadian rhythms, and flying duties while taking medication. Dur-
          ing the initial air war, aircrews were completing 12 to 20 bout
          duty days with 12 to 16 hours crew rest. For example, 41 ECS crew
          days lasted 12 to 15 hours, followed typically by 16 hours of crew
          rest. Show times for aircrews would push back four to eight hours
          daily (for example, day #1/0100; day '2/0500; day a]/ 0900; day
          ,4/1300, act.). While flying this schedule, several crew members
          complained of sleep disturbances, as well as fatigue and drowsiness
          when performing crew duties. These problems were more common among
          mission crew members than flight crews. A survey was distributed
           by the 41 ECS Flight surgeon to aircrews, eliciting an 80% response
          rate. A majority of flyers noted difficulty with rotating show
          times, and almost unanimously fixed show times; even if it
         .meant crew rest would be limited to 12 hours.  the 41 ECS DO event- 
         ually arranged a schedule with either two day or two night sorties
         followed by a 24 hour rest period. (for example, day ,1/0100 show;
two crews performed mission planning and provided aircrews to
         replace ONIF'ed hard crew members. This rotation limited show time




         changes to six bourn rather than 24 hours, and provided crew mem
         bers a 24 bour break every third day.