Heat Stress Illness in a Mechanized Infantry Brigade During Simulated Combat at Fort Irwin
Abstract
This report provides environmental temperature data and descriptive heat stress casualty statistics for an active duty mechanized infantry brigade during a three week training rotation, in August 1992, at the US Army National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California. Mean and standard deviation for noontime ambient temperatures were: 104.3 +/- 6.0 deg F (dry bulb), 129.0 +/- 7. 5 deg F (black globe), 71.4 +/- 2.6 deg F (wet bulb), 86.2 +/- 3.3 OF (WBGT). Between 13-19 August (17 days inclusive), 520 soldiers were evaluated at the brigade medical company treatment tent with a mean of 31 +/- 16 per-day (range: 14 - 58). Of these 520 patients, 90 had heat stress illnesses for an average of 5 +/- 3 heat casualties per day (range: 0 - 13). Heat stress casualties comprised 20 +/- 13% of the total number of daily patients (range: 0 - 48%). The rite of beat stress illness for the brigade was relatively low despite high VBGTs and rapid paced training scenarios. The NTC is recommended as a location for further USARIEM research on the practical military effects of hot-dry heat stress on soldiers' health and performance as well as delineating the logistical requirements that heat related casualties impose on supporting medical units.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA279578
Entities
People
- Matthew J. Reardon
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine