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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq -- A small group of Soldiers from the 64th Brigade Support Battalion and 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division participated Field Sanitation Team training, June 5, at COB Adder.
The teams learned how to conduct medical base camp assessments and implement techniques used to mitigate disease exposure or potential outbreaks.
“In a far forward, resource-limiting environment, public health threats are exacerbated exponentially. It is the responsibility of the ESEO and the FSTs located forward, to mitigate any disease threats,” said Maj. Mary Deighton, of Hood River, Ore., brigade surgeon.
Field sanitation training is an important skill for any deployed unit.
“A brigade combat team is only authorized one ESEO and a Preventive Medicine non-commissioned officer. A soldier trained in field sanitation is an extension of this team to support the whole brigade,” said 2nd Lt. Dan Harrison, of Alexandria, Va., environmental science and engineering officer, Company C, 64th BSB.
Harrison and his preventive medicine technician constantly travel, moving out to every 3rd BCT base camps. Given the energy draining heat or the occasional sand storm, they often find themselves waiting for transportation and preventing them from providing basic base camps assessments and improvement recommendations.
“This is where those Soldiers whom are FST qualified and trained come into action,” said Harrison.
Unit level FSTs are comprised of Soldiers who live on the multiple operating bases under 3rd BCT, day-to-day, and are more attune to identify potential health hazards such as the lack of proper hand washing stations at a dining area, latrine or food rummage being stored inadvertently in Soldiers’ living areas, drawing in pest and rodents.
Taught proper food preparation, temperatures, and serving techniques which help reduce food related illness and, how to test bulk water sources for free available chlorine, specifically water used for our latrines or dining facilities.
“These Soldiers learn how to protect themselves and their fellow Iron Brigade Soldiers from disease threats such as insects or rodents, water-borne threats, or food-borne threats.” said Harrison.
Every Soldier has a basic idea of how to identify heat related injuries and immediate treatment actions.
“FST members take heat injuries training one step further to implement systems such as a wet-bulb to monitor the heat index and make recommendations to Commanders and Leaders on mitigating actions, said Harrison.
FSTs who are actively involved in their roles as advisors to Commanders and Leaders, help minimize any disease threats for their fellow Soldiers.
“As the theater moves to more of an expeditionary medicine role, those FST members will become more and more of an asset for their fellow Soldiers and Commanders on forward operating bases,” said Harrison.
| Date Taken: | 06.18.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2010 12:30 |
| Story ID: | 51737 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 194 |
| Downloads: | 133 |
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