Gunner's Gate Soldiers Guard Against Heat

CAMP COOKE, IRAQ

08.09.2004

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Sgt. Merrion LaSonde

CAMP COOKE, Taji, Iraq -- Spc. Brian Anderson, a gate guard at Gunners Gate, recently found out just how important hydration is in the harsh desert climate and rising summer temperatures of Iraq.

"Shortly after I got to work, I started feeling upset to my stomach," Anderson said. "About 15 minutes later I was dry heaving and dizzy and went to see the medic.

"The day before had been the Lisbon, Ohio, native's day off which he spent sleeping. "I did not drink enough water so when I got to work, I was already dehydrated," Anderson said. The medics administered intravenous fluids, monitored Anderson for a while to make sure there was nothing more serious wrong with him and sent him home for the rest of the day."

These Soldiers that work the gate are on duty from six in the morning to two in the afternoon," said Capt. David Stapp, commander, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, 39th Brigade Combat Team. "They are on their feet exposed to the sun the entire time."

A resident of Morrillton, Ark., Stapp explained that the unit covering the watch at Gunner's Gate tries to mitigate the effects of the exposure to the sun and heat in many ways."

At the beginning of every watch, the supply sergeant makes an ice run," Stapp said. "We get enough ice to keep the water cool until our shift change. We also try to create shade wherever we can by using camouflage netting."

In addition, the Soldiers are rotated five at a time to an air conditioned building behind the gate for an hour of their shift. "We give them an opportunity to take a break from the heat," Stapp said. "We also rotate the Soldier who monitors the radio traffic out here. That person sits in the air conditioned building for their entire shift and maintains our communication with headquarters."

For some of the areas without air conditioning, the Soldiers are using swamp coolers. It is a fan with a water-fed screen filter that blows water-cooled air. It is capable of dropping the temperature in the immediate area up to 20 degrees.

With temperatures above 110 degrees on a regular basis and expectations of hotter days to come, Spc. Loreen Davenport, a Company C medic and preventive medicine representative, is surprised at the lack of heat injuries that have been seen at "Charlie Med."

"Most cases that we have seen have been of mild dehydration," Davenport said. "I'm guessing there are more cases out there just not seeking medical attention. Some Soldiers may have a severe heat illness, but they are just writing it off to being tired so as not to hamper their mission."

Davenport, of Little Rock, Ark., explained the importance of knowing how to identify a heat casualty. "Once a heat casualty; always a heat casualty," Davenport said. "Basically all that means is if you have ever succumbed to a heat-related illness, you are now considered susceptible to them. It may never happen to you again, but we have to treat you as if it could happen at any time."

Signs of heat-related illnesses are dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness or fatigue and hot-dry skin.

"If someone who has spent a long period of time in the heat is not sweating, they need to seek medical attention," Davenport said. "Very often a person suffering from a heat-related illness has no idea until it is too late, so it is very important to watch your buddy."

Among the many other precautions Stapp has taken at Gunner's Gate to ensure the Soldiers stay healthy and hydrated, he has also placed heat casualty information pamphlets in each of the guard shacks."It is [standard operating procedure] to have information posted in the guard towers on how to identify heat casualties," Stapp said. "The information is in English and Arabic."

With medics on-hand at the gate and all the other precautions put in place, the risk of more Soldiers succumbing to heat illnesses or injuries is lower, but still a possibility. While the heat is still a factor and will be for some time in the future, the ultimate responsibility comes down to the individual Soldier.

Spc. Julio Standridge, perimeter gunner at Gunner's Gate and Dover, Ark. native, sums it up by saying, "I drink water and my buddy checks up on me, but in the end all I can do is deal with it."

• Date Taken: 08.09.2004
• Date Posted: 08.09.2004 10:39
• Story ID: 203
• Location: CAMP COOKE, IQ