Photo By Staff Sgt. John Onuoha | Spc. David Yim, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron,...... read more read more
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By Spc. John Onuoha, 6-8 Cav., 2IBCT UPAR
FORT STEWART, Ga. – Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division conducted hot weather training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, April 26.
“This training is basically about heat injuries, symptoms and how to prevent it,” said Sgt. Ne’Cuama Banks, a combat medic with HHT, 6-8 Cav. “It shows everyone what signs they should look for in themselves, as well as other Soldiers, and what kind of treatment is required for different heat injuries.”
There are three types of heat injuries: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
“Heat cramps is the first stage of heat injuries and is caused when the body does not have enough salt balance,” said Spc. David Yim a combat medic with HHT, 6-8 Cav. “Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to loss of water and salt due to heavy sweating, and heat stroke is the most fatal stage of heat injuries and is caused by failure of the body’s temperature-regulating mechanism when exposed to extremely high temperatures.”
Prevention of heat injury is important and begins with staying hydrated, according to Yim.
“Some people use indoor gymnasiums and pools for workouts when the temperature is too hot outside to avoid being a heat casualty,” said Pfc. Xavier Richardson of HHT, 6-8 Cav. “You put yourself at greater risk of becoming a heat casualty when you expose yourself to high temperatures for a long time.”
Richardson listed other ways to prevent heat injuries: drinking water often, resting in a cool environment, taking cool showers, wearing lightweight clothes, limiting outdoor activities and cutting down exercises.
The training also taught Soldiers how to treat different types of heat injuries.
“Understanding heat injuries is the first step to knowing how to take care of a heat casualty,” said Sgt. Andrew Worcester, a combat medic of HHT, 6-8 Cav. “Heat cramps can be alleviated by staying in cool places, drinking water and eating salty foods.”
“For heat exhaustion you need to stay in the shade while replacing lost fluids and salt in the body by drinking a cool, slightly salty beverage,” Worcester said. “Heat stroke develops rapidly and could cause death, so it is important to seek emergency medical attention immediately while you keep the heat victim cool to reduce body temperature.”
Worcester concluded that knowledge of hot weather injuries and how to treat them is good for all Soldiers because it can save lives during training, combat or any situation in a hot environment.
| Date Taken: | 04.26.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.02.2016 16:30 |
| Story ID: | 197074 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Soldiers learn to keep cool about heat injuries, by SSG John Onuoha, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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