Field Sanitation Task Display familiarization with the Field

Field Sanitation

Task: Display familiarization with the Field Sanitation and personal hygiene standards of the United States Army. Conditions: Given this briefing summarizing guidance from the following listed references Standard: Answer questions displaying knowledge of Field Sanitation and personal hygiene standards.

The Great War (World War I)

The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 The influenza pandemic of 1918 -1919 killed more people than the Great War, known today as World War I (WWI), at somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. More people died of influenza in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague from 1347 to 1351. Known as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe" the influenza of 1918 -1919 was a global disaster

Introduction to Field Sanitation u This course is designed to enhance, sustain, or provide individual understanding of Field Sanitation and Hygiene

Class Outline u u u 1 - Medical threat to field forces 2 - Personal hygiene 3 - Water supplies 4 - Waste disposal in the field 5 - Arthropods & diseases 6 - Management of arthropods & individual PMM

Class Outline (cont’d) 7 - Control of arthropods with pesticides 8 - Rodent control & management 9 - Chemical hazards 10 - Noise hazards

Regulations and Publications l l l AR 40 -5, Preventive Medicine FM 21 -10 -1, Unit Field Sanitation Team FM 21 -10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation TB MED 577, Surveillance of Field Water Supplies TB MED 530, Food Service Sanitation

Debilitating and Non-Battle Injury (DNBI) DNBI accounts for more than 50% of casualties Direct reflection on the lack of PMM Lack of PMM causes breakdown in soldier’s health and capability to function

Medical Threat to Field Forces Casualties caused by DNBI have had a serious impact on military operations since the dawn of recorded history The four major contributors to DNBI are: Heat Transmitted diseases Cold Diarrheal diseases

Importance of Field Sanitation The success or failure of the unit and its mission may be jeopardized because of the lack of proper preventive medicine measures To help reduce disease and health problems, soldiers at every level must be educated on Field Sanitation

Importance of the Field Sanitation Team (FST) FST members should instruct/guide soldiers on the hazards of neglected personal hygiene The FST must have basic sanitation and protection roles

Role of the FST Supervise: Disinfecting of water Construction of garbage areas Construction of soakage pits Construction and cleaning of field latrines

Role of the FST Provide training and guidance to food service personnel on the prevention and elimination of deficiencies in food service sanitation Report any deficiencies to the commander for necessary action

Personal Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Measures

Promote Personal Hygiene by 9 9 9 arranging for hand-washing and showering facilities providing hot water for showering and shaving providing heated dressing rooms providing sanitary controls preventing water collecting and pooling

Hygiene Devices 9 9 9 Hand-wash devices at each latrine Hand-wash for soldiers at eating locations Hand-wash for cooks at the field kitchen Soakage pits Soap and towels

Good Personal Hygiene Prevents 9 9 9 Foot problems Skin rashes Body lice Hair lice Diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems Depression and social instability

Good Personal Hygiene Promotes 9 9 9 Healthier soldiers Self-satisfaction among troops Better work performance Less sick calls More soldiers on the front line

Water Supply in the Field

In combat, safe water ranks in importance with ammunition and food. It often has an important bearing on the success or the failure of a mission.

Importance of Good Water Soldiers must be supplied with sufficient amounts of water Water must be safe to drink and cook with Water should be safe and clear of objectionable tastes, odors, turbidity, and color Water is a vehicle for transmission of disease organisms l l l

Testing the Water l Water should be tested for the presence of Coliform bacteria – Coliform bacterii are found in great numbers in the excreta (feces) of humans – Hepatitis, leptospirosis, typhoid, cholera, diarrhea may be present in feces

Production of Safe Water l l l Check the bacterial content Check the chlorine residual content Establish standards for water quality Inspect water points After testing and treating, approve water for consumption and use

Water Supply and Treatment The unit commander makes certain that: l There is an adequate supply of good water l The rules of water discipline are enforced l Everyone understands the hazards of drinking unsafe water l The water supply will be protected by good sanitary practices

Terms and Definitions l l l Palatable - agreeable taste Potable - safe to drink Treatment - procedure to change the chemical composition Chlorinating - increases the residual level to a safe minimum PPM - parts per million

Disinfecting the Lyster Bag l l l Dissolve calcium hypochlorite ampules in a canteen cup Add to water, stir Flush faucets Wait ten minutes Test water for proper residual levels Let water stand for 20 minutes before use

Treating the 400 Gallon Water Trailer l l l Mix 3 MRE spoonfuls of calcium hypochlorite with 1/2 cup of water Add to water, stir Flush faucets Wait ten minutes, test again If residuals are at 5 PPM, wait 20 minutes before use

Treating the Canteen l l l Use two iodine tablets in each full canteen of water Place tablets in canteen, wait 5 minutes Shake canteen Loosen cap, allow clean water to seep around the neck to kill any organisms Minimum contact time is 30 minutes

Water Supplies l l Under all situations in the field, soldiers must be supplied with sufficient amounts of potable water. This requires a coordinated effort between the State medical authority, the commander, and the field sanitation team.

Waste Disposal in the Field l l Proper waste disposal is essential in preventing the spread of disease. Solid and liquid wastes produced under field conditions can be as much as 100 lbs person per day. The unit commander and First Sergeant are responsible for the removal of trash and garbage, not Food Services.

Human Waste Disposal l l Huge problem for the unit and soldiers in the field Chemical Latrines should be provided for 4% of the male population and for 6% of the female population Located 100 yards downhill from water sources and field kitchens Hand-wash devices should be provided at each latrine

Garbage Disposal l l Most Training Sites – do not allow burying garbage – garbage must be separated – must be hauled to landfill Liquid waste (grease and oils) – 1 -5 gallons person per day is normal – must be contained for proper disposal – most training sites have recycle drums

Waste Disposal l Before trash, garbage, grease, oils, or human waste is burned, buried, dug in, or covered up, check with the Installation Environmental Officer for proper procedures. It may save you at lot of headaches and money.

Arthropods and Disease l It is important for you to know that throughout history more soldiers have been killed or disabled from arthropod-borne disease than from actual combat.

Arthropods Any member of the phylum Arthropoda, which includes the insects, centipedes, crustaceans, millipedes, mites, scorpions, spiders, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, etc. In many cases, the arthropod is the vehicle or cause of the disease.

How Arthropods Affect Human Health l l l By direct injury – stings or bites Through disease transmission – bacteria deposited on food Myiasis – larvae migrate through human host – fly eggs turn into maggots in stool

Common Arthropods l mosquitoes house fly ticks fleas deer flies filth fly scorpions mites red bugs wasps

Arthropod-borne Diseases Malaria Yellow Fever Dengue Fever Encephalitis Typhus Bubonic Plague - mosquito & ticks - body lice - fleas

Management of Arthropods through Field Sanitation and PMM Since the ideal location of bivouac sites are not always possible, we must know how to manage arthropods which affect the health of the soldiers. Through effective measures we can control arthropod infestation.

Individual PMM Clothing – worn loosely – trouser legs tucked in without blousing rubbers – shirt sleeves rolled down and buttoned – no holes or tears – head gear worn (insect screen may be attached)

Clothing Repellent Some repellents can be applied directly to the clothing. The two methods which are acceptable are by aerosol spray or by dipping into a repellent solution. Either method must be approved by the Installation Surgeon and the directions for use must be strictly followed.

Skin Repellent may be applied directly to the skin, spread evenly over the area. Do not get chemicals into eyes. Skin repellent may be used on clothing. Apply a few drops or spray compound on clothing around openings.

PMM for rest periods Screened billets - desirable, but not always available Bed nets - a necessity to be used in conjunction with screened billets Aerosol spray - the last line of defense, sprayed in and around billets

Equipment used for Control Hand Duster - delousing application Hand Pressure Sprayer - general application - 2 gallon capacity Aerosol cans - general application for small areas Bottles - general application for uncovered skin

Control of Arthropods with Pesticides A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances or chemicals which kills pests. Pesticides are used to augment, not replace, field sanitation and individual PMM.

Application of Pesticides IMPORTANT FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN DISPENSING PESTICIDES: l Toxic effect when inhaled l Degree and speed of skin absorption l Cumulative effect in the body l Concentration of toxicant l Amount of pesticide that must be applied l Conditions under which chemicals are applied

Rodent Management l l l Rodents are the carriers of several diseases which are harmful to humans The best known and most serious is the plague, a disease transmitted to humans by rodent fleas Rodents are known to cause millions of dollars of damage to crops

Types of Rodents l Norway Rat – found at ground level – likes to burrow in the ground – found mostly in temperate regions – roams 100 -150 feet in search of food and water – likes people food – life span 1 year – each female can produce 84 young rats per year

Types of Rodents l Roof Rat – found in attics and walls – roams 100 -150 feet in search of food and water – found everywhere in the world – likes people food, prefers vegetables – life span 1 year – each female can produce 64 young rats per year

Types of Rodents l House Mouse – found in attics and walls – found everywhere in the world – likes people food l l * 1/10 oz of food per day * 1/20 oz of water per day – roams 50 feet for food and water – life span 1 year – each female can produce 84 young rats per year

Diseases Caused by Rodents l Leptospirosis – acute fever – jaundice and bleeding – deadly infectious disease – meningitis – treatment is with penicillin

Diseases Caused by Rodents l Plague – fever up to 104*F – nausea and vomiting – headache – muscular pain – mental disorientation and delirium – certain DEATH within a few days

Looking for Rodents sightings gnaw marks presence of dead rodents tracks droppings nests smudge marks on baseboards sounds burrows or holes odors

Rodent Elimination l l l l eliminate access to garbage dispose of garbage regularly do not leave food out store all food in tightly sealed containers clean up all food spills repair all water leaks seal off all exterior openings

Rodent Elimination l l l clean up building materials thin or remove dense vegetation trim tree limbs stack materials away from walls remove paper, cardboard boxes, cloths any materials that can be used for nests

Elimination Devices l Snap traps – against walls – behind objects – secure the bait – checked and reset daily – meats (Norway rat) – dried fruits (Roof rat) – peanut butter (House mouse)

Chemical Elimination l l l involves the use of rodenticides blood anti-coagulant chemicals do not use in food storage, prep, or serving areas bait stations should be placed against walls or burrows should give the rodent a secure place to feed

Disposal of Dead Rodents l l spread insect repellent on your hands, sleeves, and the front of your clothes pick up rodent with long-handled tongs or a shovel place carcass in plastic bag and place in tightly fitted refuse container spray general purpose pesticide in refuse container

Chemical Hazards Occupational hazards may be classified as chemical, physical, or biological. Chemicals may produce injury or death in all situations, including combat. The loss of key personnel has a direct effect on the unit’s ability to accomplish its mission.

Chemical Routes of Entry Inhalation l l Absorption l Ingestion l Injection

Chemical Classes Liquid Gas Vapor Mist Solids Dust

Chemicals odorless and colorless space heaters automotive exhaust fumes non-irritating slow working interferes with oxygen to the body causes headaches, sleepiness, coma, and death

Chemicals Hydrogen Chloride exhaust from rocket systems Bore/gun gasses contain lead deposits contains carbon monoxide effects respiratory system with flu-like symptoms acid burns to eyes, throat, lungs, skin

Chemicals Liquids solvents insecticides fuels skin irritations lubricants chemical burns

Noise Hazards We are surrounded by sounds 24 hours a day. We are so used to a sound filled environment that a lack of sound can be very disturbing. But, too much sound can have profound physical effects on our hearing, and can cause deafness.

Types of noise Impact or impulse noise very loud in short bursts small arms fire, cannon fire, gun fire Continuous or steady noise field generators personnel carriers aircraft tank interiors truck cabs First Sergeants

Recognizing the Effects of Noise ringing in ears temporary loss of hearing ear ache equilibrium loss headache

Hearing Protection l l l armor crew helmet helicopter crew helmet aircraft ground crew “ears” earmuffs earplugs

Plan for Noise identify existing noise in your unit è outfit soldiers with proper protection è protectors should be cleaned regularly è control noise sources è instruct soldiers on proper wear è instruct soldiers on effects of hearing loss è

Summary Field sanitation and hygiene is the personal responsibility of each and every soldier. Those measures the individual fails to follow affects not only that one soldier but each and every soldier around them. Leaders at all echelons need to rigorously enforce field sanitation and hygiene to ensure that their unit is healthy and prepared physically for the stresses of combat. Failing to adhere to these guidelines is a certain way to cause your unit to become incapable of conducting its mission.