Environmental medicine research to sustain health and performance during military deployment: desert, arctic, high altitude stressors

Author:: Krueger, Gerald P.
Title:: Environmental medicine research to sustain health and performance during military deployment: desert, arctic, high altitude stressors
Periodical:: Journal of Thermal Biology
Year:: 1993
Volume:: 18
Pages:: 687-690
Subject:: Military deployment Preventive medicine high altitude
Summary:: Located in Natick, Massachusetts, the U. S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, (USARIEM), has a multifaceted research mission. It is aimed at preserving the health of, and sustaining and maximizing the performance of soldiers, sailors, and airmen, during training, operational readiness exercises, and combat as the rapid deployment of military forces, to extreme and naturally harsh environments, presents combatants with physiological, biological, and psychological stresses. These stresses jeopardizes the success of the mission(s) as it affects mood, motivation, and activation, results in decreased job performance, makes accidents more likely, and leads to illnesses and non-combat injuries. As a result, the USARIEM scientists conduct preventive medicine research across the whole gamut of military work scenarios. Therefore, as preparation for operations in harsh military environments, this paper outlines research topics and offers principles of preventive medicine guidance that include: pre-acclimatization and anti-jet lag measures, hydration, selection of rations based on nutrition requirements, pharmacological intervention, field sanitation, work-rest-sleep scheduling, and controlling operational stress. These advanced concepts are proven preventive medicine techniques and advanced concepts that assists military forces in preparing for, and adjusting to, deserts that are hot and dry, jungles that are hot and wet, cold arctic regions, and high terrestrial altitudes.
Label:: Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS)
Date:: 1993
Collection:: Periodicals