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         U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
                                       Natick. MA 01760-5007
                                        [(b)(2)]


      ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE SUPPORT FOR DESERT OPERATIONS:
                      PRACTICAL GUIDANCE AND SUGGESTIONS
                                      FOR DEPLOYMENT & SURVIVAL
                                               10 August 1990


INDEX:
                                                                   Page
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION: ............................................................................1
KEYPOINTS: ...........................................................................................................2
   PHYSIOLOGICAL LAWS: ........................................................................................2
   OPERATIONAL CAUSES OF HEAT ILLNESS & INJURY: ...................................... 3
   COMMON PREVENTIVE MEDICINE ISSUES & GUIDANCE ........................ ......... 3
      HYDRATION & ELECTROLYTE BALANCE ...........................................................3
      FOOD INTAKE & NUTRITION: ............................................................................. 6
      HEAT ACCLIMATION/PHYSICAL FITNESS: ........................................................ 8
      FIELD SANITATION & VECTOR CONTROL: ........................................................ 8
      PSYCHOLOGICAL & PHYSlOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE: ..................................10
      HEAT INJURY PREVENTION ...............................................................................13
       HEAT INJURY & ILLNESS - IDENTIFICATION & TREATMENT: ........................ 14
       MISC. MEDICAL PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY DESERT OPS ...........................14
       EYE CARE: .......................................................................................................... 16
       NON-MEDICAL OPERATIONAL OBSERVATIONS: ............................................. 16
       
       
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

     U.5. Forces have had limited experience in desert combat operations.
Engagement of units in desert combat in North Africa began on 8 November 1942 with
the landing of troops at Port Safi, Morocco and ended 20 May 1943 with the
surrender of Germany's Panzer Army and the fall of Tunisia (Desert Operations- FM
31-25). The guidance and suggestions presented here draw heavily on knowledge
gained by this Institute in laboratory and field studies, information obtained from
contacts in other countries, and observations made by Institute personnel who have
accompanied troops deployed to desert environments for training and readiness
exercises (e.g., Bright Star, NTC). This paper is not intended to replace doctrine
contained in TB Med 507 and other official guidance, but to expeditiously make
available this Institute's "lessons-learned".


                                              Atch 3

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