First thing in the morning: Temperature check

Photo By Master Sgt. Mary Rose Mittlesteadt | Brig. Gen. Frank Tate, the Joint Forces Command - United Assistance deputy commanding general – support, receives a temperature check from Spc. Chongcilyn Langu, a supply specialist with the 372nd Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Task Force Lifeliner, prior to entering a living area for 101st Sustainment Brigade's Task Force Lifeliner Soldiers, Nov. 11, 2014. All service members are required to have their temperatures taken twice a day while deployed in support of Operation United Assistance. Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Rose Mittlesteadt, 101st Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs/RELEASED)  

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

11.13.2014

Story by Sgt. Matthew Britton 

27th Public Affairs Detachment

MONROVIA, Liberia – The number one priority for the service members supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development is mitigating risk and protecting the health of those on ground. Following safety guidelines, hygiene procedures and training the troops receive before and after they get in country ensures this.

The day begins just like any other deployment for the troops here, but with a few exceptions. A temperature check is taken and recorded before they're even out of bed – something unique to Operation United Assistance.

This mandatory check is one of two that happens daily and is a key element to the mission's success. In addition to the temperature checks, health care personnel regularly remind troops to take their anti-malaria medication.

"We do temperature checks twice a day," said Sgt. Christopher Williams, Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, "and make sure they haven't contracted a fever or other symptoms of any type of virus."

The medical team here has steps in place in the event someone has an abnormally high temperature.

"If a troop has a fever, we'll do a 24-hour patient watch," said Williams. "Basically we make sure the fever has gone down, that they show no other symptoms and they're responding well to the medication. Also, we do supportive therapy and monitor them in case they need elevated care."

Ebola is a prevalent scare and enforcing protective measures is a critical leader task, but it is far from the only threat here. Malaria is one of those risks. Malarone is the drug prescribed to combat this disease.

According to Williams, to prevent the contraction of malaria, his unit maintains a checklist for each Soldier supporting Operation United Assistance. They're asked every day if they have taken their Malarone.

Training will continue while troops are deployed. The Task Force troops will continually have hands-on training and testing on the use of their personal protective equipment to ensure they remain proficient in protecting themselves in the unlikely event of an elevated Ebola risk.

• Date Taken: 11.13.2014
• Date Posted: 11.13.2014 18:35
• Story ID: 147794
• Location: MONROVIA, LR