Heat safety key training is priority
| Story and photo by Spc. Eliamar Trapp/The Bayonet FORT BENNING, Ga. (TRADOC News Service, June 23, 2005) – Each year, the Fort Benning Infantry Training Brigade trains more than 22,000 Soldiers to become the Army’s infantrymen. But with Fort Benning being one of the hottest installations with the mission of training Soldiers, heat casualties are at times inevitable due to the scorching Georgia summers. With the temperatures as high as 108 degrees with 80 percent humidity in the summer, the number of heat casualties in Soldiers training can sometimes rise. “We do everything to keep these Soldiers safe while training and not take away from the training they need for combat,” said Sgt. Maj. Alan Gibson, training and operations sergeant major for ITB. “We train all our leaders and drill sergeants on handling hot-weather situations in a Leader Check Ride, which is mandatory for all personnel assigned to ITB.” During a Leader Check Ride, leaders receive training on leader standards, proper care and treatment of Soldiers, administration and safety – especially heat casualties. During check rides, leaders learn how to properly apply iced sheets to Soldiers and how to use a wet bulb to monitor temperature, Gibson said. Iced sheets are just that, sheets kept in an ice cooler at all training sites. The sheets are used to cool off a Soldier who’s experiencing heat-injury symptoms. A wet bulb is also required at all training sites to determine humidity. Using a wet bulb in conjunction with a thermometer, drill sergeants can monitor the humidity in the air and determine the heat category for the training. Another measure taken to ensure safety is the monitoring of food and water intake of Soldiers, Gibson said. In preventing heat injuries, all training elements at Fort Benning must follow U.S. Army Infantry Center Regulation 40-14. The fluid-replacement policy for warm weather, better known as the heat-category chart, is found in USAIC Regulation 40-14 and shows the amount of training allowed as well as the water intake necessary during the various heat categories. “We will modify training for Soldiers and their uniforms and still get the value of training our warriors in the field,” Gibson said. “We must acclimate our Soldiers for the harsh environment so they know how to take care of themselves when (these) situations occur in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.” The Soldier acclimation process takes place during the first three weeks of training. This is the time when all Soldiers are closely monitored to see if they are potential heat-casualty victims. Data gathered by the Army Medical Surveillance Activity shows that the first three weeks of training are crucial in identifying hot-weather casualties among Soldiers. According to Training and Doctrine Command regulation, once Soldiers are identified as heat casualties, they are observed throughout the training by a marking on their equipment. The marking ensures they can be quickly identified by cadre. According to the Army Medical Surveillance Activity, most heat injuries happen between April and September, with July being the hottest month. The same study showed Soldiers in the first 18 to 24 months of active duty have significantly higher rates of heat injuries. “We can’t afford to lose Soldiers from negligence during training; the cost is too high,” Gibson said. “We need them trained and on the battlefield.” For more information
on heat prevention or for heat prevention posters and cards, go to http://chppm-www.apgea.mil/heat. |
Infantry Training Brigade Soldiers in their 11th week conduct MOUT training at Fort Benning. Heat injuries are a concern for trainees during the hot summer months. View and/or save high-resolution photo |
