Vietnam Survival Challenge: Group 3 By, Jack Goodman, Dustin Eichler, Andrew George, and Prit Gandhi

Mosquitos/Malaria Jack Getting bitten by an infected mosquito causes Malaria Malaria did not kill many American soldiers, but it brought 40,000 out of the field to seek treatment. Reduced the morale of the troops. In order to avoid it, troops used insect repellent and protective clothing.

Fire Ants Dustin Fire ants are red ants that travel in swarms. Their sting can inflict an extremely painful often referred to as the feeling of being burnt by fire. They are important to the war because they were another problem for soldiers to avoid, but many were eventually stung by this ant. To protect them from the ants they would make sure they had everything cover to make sure that a ant won’t crawl on them and bite them

Jungle Rot Prit Painful, enlarging sore Usually on the lower limb of a human in hot, humid/tropical regions of the earth Troops got this because of hot/dry weather conditions, poor nutrition, and bad hygiene Disabled troops to fight M-1945 Tropical Combat Boot, antibiotics, cleaning sore

CP pills and other ways to prevent disease Drew -Anti Malaria pills -Malaria was prevented by avoiding wet areas -Disease was not a very large threat to US soldiers compared To other wars the US has fought.

Dysentery Jack A bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea. Caused by drinking bad water that is contaminated by the dysentery. Reduced the morale of the soldiers. Prevented by drinking pasteurized water and purified water.

Dehydration Dustin Besides having to fight a war, soldiers had to make sure they were also healthy and well nourished. The main resource was water, it hydrated them and also can cool them down. Once they lose that source of nourishment they will start to get dehydrated. Dehydration also could set in very quick due to the Vietnam climate. To fight this, Soldiers would pack multiple canteens of water.

Effects of Dehydration Dustin Dry Mouth Weakness Dizziness Palpitation (The feeling of your heart pounding very fast) Confusion Fainting

Snakes/other insects and animals Drew -White lipped pit viper, malayan pit viper, spitting viper and malayan krait -About 50 bites annually -Two step was a belief that if you were bit, you had two steps and then you died. -Tigers and hornets were also dangers.

Monsoon Conditions Prit Rain storms started in March Went on for at least 6 months Hot, humid, wet, floods Soldiers were always soaked Tried to stay covered indoors (cars etc.) Made the soldiers more tired

LeechesDustin Leeches suck blood out of its host without him knowing because it uses a numbing effect that allows it to be hidden.When Soldiers would have to cross a river in Vietnam it’s most likely it was infested with leeches. Effects of being sucked by a leech is mainly lose of blood. To defend themselves from this, they would check each other after crossing water. If one had a leech they had two method of getting it off, one was burning it with a cigarette or using bug spray that s

Citations