Field Sanitation
Task: Display familiarization with the Field Sanitation and personal hygiene standards of the United States Army.
Conditions: Given this briefing summarizing guidance from the following listed references
Standard: Answer questions displaying knowledge of Field Sanitation and personal hygiene standards.
The Great War (World War I)
The Influenza Pandemic of 1918
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War, known today as World War I (WWI), at
somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history.
More people died of influenza in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague from 1347 to 1351. Known
as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe" the influenza of 1918-1919 was a global disaster
Introduction to Field Sanitation
This course is designed to enhance, sustain, or provide individual understanding of Field Sanitation and Hygiene
Class Outline
1- Medical threat to field forces 2- Personal hygiene 3- Water supplies 4- Waste disposal in the field 5- Arthropods & diseases 6- Management of arthropods & individual
PMM
Class Outline (cont’d)
7- Control of arthropods with pesticides
8- Rodent control & management
9- Chemical hazards
10- Noise hazards
Regulations and Publications
AR 40-5, Preventive Medicine FM 21-10-1, Unit Field Sanitation Team FM 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation TB MED 577, Surveillance of Field Water
Supplies TB MED 530, Food Service Sanitation
Debilitating and Non-Battle Injury(DNBI)
DNBI accounts for more than 50% of casualties
Direct reflection on the lack of PMM
Lack of PMM causes breakdown in soldier’s health and capability to function
Medical Threat to Field Forces
Casualties caused by DNBI have had a serious
impact on military operations since the dawn
of recorded history
The four major contributors to DNBI are:
Heat Transmitted diseases
Cold Diarrheal diseases
The success or failure of the unit and its
mission may be jeopardized because of the
lack of proper preventive medicine measures
To help reduce disease and health problems,
soldiers at every level must be educated on
Field Sanitation
Importance of Field Sanitation
FST members should instruct/guide soldiers
on the hazards of neglected personal hygiene
The FST must have basic sanitation and
protection roles
Importance of the Field Sanitation Team (FST)
Supervise:
Disinfecting of water
Construction of garbage areas
Construction of soakage pits
Construction and cleaning of field latrines
Role of the FST
Provide training and guidance to food service
personnel on the prevention and elimination
of deficiencies in food service sanitation
Report any deficiencies to the commander for
necessary action
Role of the FST
Personal Hygieneand
Preventive Medicine Measures
Promote Personal HygienePromote Personal Hygienebyby
arranging for hand-washing and showering facilities
providing hot water for showering and shaving
providing heated dressing rooms providing sanitary controls preventing water collecting and pooling
Hygiene DevicesHygiene Devices
Hand-wash devices at each latrine Hand-wash for soldiers at eating locations Hand-wash for cooks at the field kitchen Soakage pits Soap and towels
Good Personal Hygiene Good Personal Hygiene PreventsPrevents
Foot problems Skin rashes Body lice Hair lice Diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems Depression and social instability
Good Personal Hygiene Good Personal Hygiene PromotesPromotes
Healthier soldiers Self-satisfaction among troops Better work performance Less sick calls More soldiers on the front line
Water Supply in the Field
In combat, safe water ranks in
importance with ammunition and
food. It often has an important
bearing on the success or the
failure of a mission.
Importance of Good WaterImportance of Good Water Soldiers must be supplied with sufficient
amounts of water
Water must be safe to drink and cook with Water should be safe and clear of
objectionable tastes, odors, turbidity, and
color Water is a vehicle for transmission of
disease organisms
Testing the WaterTesting the Water
Water should be tested for the presence of Coliform bacteria
– Coliform bacterii are found in great numbers in the excreta (feces) of humans
– Hepatitis, leptospirosis, typhoid, cholera, diarrhea may be present in feces
Production of Safe WaterProduction of Safe Water
Check the bacterial content Check the chlorine residual content Establish standards for water quality Inspect water points After testing and treating, approve water for
consumption and use
Water Supply and TreatmentWater Supply and Treatment
The unit commander makes certain that: There is an adequate supply of good water The rules of water discipline are enforced Everyone understands the hazards of
drinking unsafe water The water supply will be protected by good
sanitary practices
Terms and DefinitionsTerms and Definitions
Palatable - agreeable taste Potable - safe to drink Treatment - procedure to change the
chemical composition Chlorinating - increases the residual level to
a safe minimum PPM - parts per million
Disinfecting the Lyster BagDisinfecting the Lyster Bag
Dissolve calcium hypochlorite ampules in a canteen cup
Add to water, stir Flush faucets Wait ten minutes Test water for proper residual levels Let water stand for 20 minutes before use
Treating theTreating the400 Gallon Water Trailer400 Gallon Water Trailer
Mix 3 MRE spoonfuls of calcium hypochlorite with 1/2 cup of water
Add to water, stir Flush faucets Wait ten minutes, test again If residuals are at 5 PPM, wait 20 minutes
before use
Treating the CanteenTreating the Canteen
Use two iodine tablets in each full canteen of water
Place tablets in canteen, wait 5 minutes Shake canteen Loosen cap, allow clean water to seep
around the neck to kill any organisms Minimum contact time is 30 minutes
Water SuppliesWater Supplies
Under all situations in the field, soldiers must be supplied with sufficient amounts of potable water.
This requires a coordinated effort between the State medical authority, the commander, and the field sanitation team.
Waste Disposal in the Field
Proper waste disposal is essential in preventing the spread of disease. Solid and liquid wastes produced under field conditions can be as much as 100 lbs per person per day.
The unit commander and First Sergeant are responsible for the removal of trash and garbage, not Food Services.
Human Waste DisposalHuman Waste Disposal
Huge problem for the unit and soldiers in the field Chemical Latrines should be provided for 4% of
the male population and for 6% of the female population
Located 100 yards downhill from water sources and field kitchens
Hand-wash devices should be provided at each latrine
Garbage DisposalGarbage Disposal
Most Training Sites– do not allow burying garbage– garbage must be separated– must be hauled to landfill
Liquid waste (grease and oils)– 1-5 gallons per person per day is normal– must be contained for proper disposal– most training sites have recycle drums
Waste DisposalWaste Disposal
Before trash, garbage, grease, oils, or human waste is burned, buried, dug in, or covered up, check with the Installation Environmental Officer for proper procedures. It may save you at lot of headaches and money.
Arthropods and Disease
It is important for you to know that throughout history more soldiers have been killed or disabled from arthropod-borne disease than from actual combat.
ArthropodsArthropods
Any member of the phylum Arthropoda, which includes the insects, centipedes, crustaceans, millipedes, mites, scorpions, spiders, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, etc.
In many cases, the arthropod is the vehicle or cause of the disease.
How Arthropods Affect Human Health
By direct injury– stings or bites
Through disease transmission–bacteria deposited on food
Myiasis– larvae migrate through human
host–fly eggs turn into maggots in stool
Common ArthropodsCommon Arthropods
mosquitoes filth fly
house fly scorpions
ticks mites
fleas red bugs
deer flies wasps
Arthropod-borne DiseasesArthropod-borne Diseases
Malaria - mosquito
Yellow Fever - mosquito
Dengue Fever - mosquito
Encephalitis - mosquito & ticks
Typhus - body lice
Bubonic Plague - fleas
Management of Arthropods through Field Sanitation and
PMM
Since the ideal location of bivouac sites are not always possible, we must know how to manage arthropods which affect the health of the soldiers. Through effective measures we can control arthropod infestation.
Individual PMMIndividual PMM
Clothing– worn loosely– trouser legs tucked in without blousing rubbers– shirt sleeves rolled down and buttoned– no holes or tears– head gear worn (insect screen may be attached)
Clothing RepellentClothing Repellent
Some repellents can be applied directly to the clothing. The two methods which are acceptable are by aerosol spray or by dipping into a repellent solution.
Either method must be approved by the Installation Surgeon and the directions for use must be strictly followed.
Skin RepellentSkin Repellent
Repellent may be applied directly to the skin, spread evenly over the area. Do not get chemicals into eyes.
Skin repellent may be used on clothing. Apply a few drops or spray compound on clothing around openings.
PMM for rest periodsPMM for rest periods
Screened billets - desirable, but not always
available
Bed nets - a necessity to be used in
conjunction with screened billets
Aerosol spray - the last line of defense,
sprayed in and around billets
Equipment used for ControlEquipment used for Control
Hand Duster - delousing application
Hand Pressure Sprayer - general application
- 2 gallon capacity
Aerosol cans - general application for small
areas
Bottles - general application for uncovered
skin
Control of Arthropods with Pesticides
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances or chemicals which kills pests.
Pesticides are used to augment, not replace, field sanitation and individual PMM.
Application of PesticidesIMPORTANT FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED
WHEN DISPENSING PESTICIDES: Toxic effect when inhaled Degree and speed of skin
absorption Cumulative effect in the body Concentration of toxicant Amount of pesticide that must be
applied Conditions under which chemicals
are applied
Rodent Management
Rodents are the carriers of several diseases which are harmful to humans
The best known and most serious is the plague, a disease transmitted to humans by rodent fleas
Rodents are known to cause millions of dollars of damage to crops
Types of RodentsTypes of Rodents Norway Rat
– found at ground level– likes to burrow in the ground – found mostly in temperate regions– roams 100-150 feet in search of food and water– likes people food– life span 1 year– each female can produce 84 young rats per year
Types of RodentsTypes of Rodents
Roof Rat– found in attics and walls– roams 100-150 feet in search of food and water– found everywhere in the world– likes people food, prefers vegetables– life span 1 year– each female can produce 64 young rats per year
Types of Rodents
House Mouse– found in attics and walls– found everywhere in the world– likes people food
* 1/10 oz of food per day * 1/20 oz of water per day
– roams 50 feet for food and water– life span 1 year– each female can produce 84 young rats per year
Diseases Caused by Rodents
Leptospirosis
– acute fever
– jaundice and bleeding
– deadly infectious disease
– meningitis
– treatment is with penicillin
Diseases Caused by Rodents
Plague– fever up to 104*F– nausea and vomiting– headache– muscular pain– mental disorientation and delirium
– certain DEATH within a few days
Looking for Rodents
sightings gnaw marks
presence of dead rodents tracks
droppings nests
smudge marks on baseboards sounds
burrows or holes odors
Rodent Elimination eliminate access to garbage dispose of garbage regularly do not leave food out store all food in tightly sealed containers clean up all food spills repair all water leaks seal off all exterior openings
Rodent EliminationRodent Elimination clean up building materials thin or remove dense vegetation trim tree limbs stack materials away from walls remove paper, cardboard boxes, cloths any materials that can be used for nests
Elimination DevicesElimination Devices Snap traps
– against walls– behind objects– secure the bait– checked and reset daily– meats (Norway rat)– dried fruits (Roof rat)– peanut butter (House mouse)
Chemical EliminationChemical Elimination involves the use of rodenticides blood anti-coagulant chemicals do not use in food storage, prep, or serving
areas bait stations should be placed against walls
or burrows should give the rodent a secure place to
feed
Disposal of Dead RodentsDisposal of Dead Rodents spread insect repellent on your hands,
sleeves, and the front of your clothes pick up rodent with long-handled tongs or a
shovel place carcass in plastic bag and place in
tightly fitted refuse container spray general purpose pesticide in refuse
container
Chemical HazardsChemical Hazards
Occupational hazards may be classified as
chemical, physical, or biological.
Chemicals may produce injury or death in all
situations, including combat.
The loss of key personnel has a direct effect
on the unit’s ability to accomplish its mission.
Chemical Routes of Entry
Inhalation
Absorption
Ingestion
Injection
Chemical Classes
Liquid Gas
Vapor Mist
Solids Dust
Chemicalsodorless and colorless
space heaters
automotive exhaust fumes
non-irritating
slow working
interferes with oxygen to the body
causes headaches, sleepiness, coma, and death
Chemicals
Hydrogen Chlorideexhaust from rocket systems
Bore/gun gasses contain lead deposits
contains carbon monoxide
effects respiratory system with flu-like symptoms
acid burns to eyes, throat, lungs, skin
ChemicalsLiquids
solvents insecticides
fuels skin irritations
lubricants chemical burns
Noise Hazards
We are surrounded by sounds 24 hours a day. We are so used to a sound filled environment that a lack of sound can be very disturbing. But, too much sound can have profound physical effects on our hearing, and can cause deafness.
Types of noiseImpact or impulse noisevery loud in short bursts
small arms fire, cannon fire, gun fire
Continuous or steady noisefield generators tank interiors
personnel carriers truck cabs
aircraft First Sergeants
Recognizing the Effects of Noise
ringing in ears
temporary loss of hearing
ear ache
equilibrium loss
headache
Hearing Protection
armor crew helmet helicopter crew helmet aircraft ground crew “ears” earmuffs earplugs
Plan for Noise identify existing noise in your unit outfit soldiers with proper protection protectors should be cleaned regularly control noise sources instruct soldiers on proper wear instruct soldiers on effects of hearing loss
SummaryField sanitation and hygiene is the personal responsibilityof each and every soldier. Those measures the individual failsto follow affects not only that one soldier but each and everysoldier around them.
Leaders at all echelons need to rigorously enforce fieldsanitation and hygiene to ensure that their unit is healthy andprepared physically for the stresses of combat. Failing to adhere to these guidelines is a certain way to cause your unitto become incapable of conducting its mission.