Preventive Medicine Measures CPT Steven L. Patterson

Duty Non-Battle Injury n 80% of all hospital admissions in combat are not from combat wounds n 20,000 Arab heat injuries in the 7 Day War n 2000 deaths of 8000 doughboys shipped to WW I due to influenza

Insects Kill More People Than ALL Other Animals Combined n Mosquitoes n Ticks n Bees n Scorpions n Fleas n Flies

Vector Borne Diseases n Dengue Fever n Malaria n Hemorrhagic Fever n Schistosomiasis n Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever n Lyme Disease n Leishmaniasis

Personal Protective Measures n Immunizations n DEET n Permethrin n Proper Wear of Uniform n Chemoprofilaxis

Heat Injuries n New water standard, 10 quarts n Water Toxicity n Have IV’s available n Wet Bulb n Acclimatization n Alcohol/Caffeine n Wear of Uniform Sunburn n Work/Rest Cycle n Repeat Injuries

Cold Injury n Wear of Uniform n Repeat of Injuries n Dehydration n Anti-perspirant on feet n Sex and Race n Tobacco Use

Diarrhea and Dysentery n Dysentery is bloody diarrhea n Almost Always from Food or Water n Can incapacitate a entire unit n Prevented by hand washing, good sanitation, and safe, approved food/water source

Deployments n Preventive Medicine Threat Brief n Food, Water, Ice, Fruit/Vegetables n Inventory FST n PPM’s

Field Sanitation Teams n Trained in sanitation actions, 40 hours n Advisor to commander, not work detail n Need command support and money for equipment n PM needs to be a command action

Site Selection n Rodents/Unit Pets n Insects n Food and Water for above n Trash n Latrines n Remote Site Problems –Food, Water, Education

Preventive Medicine Assets n PM Detachments n Division PM n Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine n Veterinarian

Environmental Health Mission n Health Inspections n Swimming Pools/Bathing Areas n Barber Shops n Regulated Medical Waste n Hazardous Waste n Pest Control n Preventive Medicine Threat Briefs

Fringe Issues n Depleted Uranium n Anthrax n Combat Stress n STD’s/AIDS/Hepatitis C n Hearing/Eye Protection n Tobacco n Skin Infections n Dental Care

Fort Gordon Issues n Snakes are Protected –Eastern Hognosed is Threatened n RCW n Gopher Tortoise n Protected Plants

Recent Issues n Aid Missions in Central America n Sewage Dumping in Albania n Soldiers Deploying/Returning “Sick” n Fort Gordon fined $50,000 n Majors thrown out of Alaska

Conclusion n Do what you mother told you to do. –Wash your hands –Don’t take stuff from strangers –(Use the DEET/Permethrin)

Questions?? CPT Steven L. Patterson

NSN’s n DEET Cream (2 per) n Permethrin –Can (6 weeks/1 per uniform) –Bag (Life of Uniform) n Mosquito Nets n Poles