Avoiding the plague of non-combat injuries: simple guidelines help keep Airmen healthier

It's obvious that some of the greatest dangers to Airmen serving in a war zone are insurgents, roadside bombs, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and bullets.

But what crawls around beneath their feet, sneaks into their lungs or worms its way into their minds may be just as lethal.

It's no secret that Airmen in good physical shape perform better in combat, said Lt. Col. Michael Butel, U.S. Air Forces Central chief of aerospace medicine and public health.

And the overall health of Airmen in war zones is good, he said. But these warriors are still susceptible to dangerous bug bites, respiratory illnesses and high psychological stresses.

"Overall, 99 percent of Airmen report being in good or better health, based on pre- and post-deployment health assessments," he said. "After deployments, only 8 percent of active-duty and 11 percent of reserve Airmen reported their health was worse than before deployment."

In addition to the enemy, here are the top 10 dangers Airmen face in a war zone.

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10 DANGERS

10 Poor overall health.

Get ready to deploy: Get in shape and don't smoke. Comply with pre-deployment disease prevention measures. Get vaccinations and health screens. Treat uniforms with permethrin (insecticide). Pack all personal prescription medications.

9 Insect and animal bites

Rules prohibit Airmen from keeping pets. But a contractor at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, adopted a pet dog that was rabid. It bit 50 people in one night. And an Airman found a dead scorpion in a rug she bought at a bazaar near Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq.

8 Heat and cold

In Iraq and Afghanistan, heat stroke and frost bite are real dangers. Drink water and stay hydrated to prevent heat stress. Layer cold-weather clothing to avoid frost bite.

7 Sexually transmitted diseases

General Order 1 doesn't prohibit sex. But Airmen should practice safe sex. Young women should consider getting the new human papillornavirus vaccine that has the potential to prevent many forms of cervical cancer.

6 Psychological

Airmen endure the stress of deployment, long work hours, family separation and sometimes witness or experience trauma. Those who experience trauma should talk about it with their wingman or a combat stress control team.

5 Ophthalmology

Eye trauma is real in deployed environments. Corneal abrasions from dust and sand can lead to severe eye damage. Only wear contacts after receiving commander's approval.

4 Gastrointestinal

Travelers' diarrhea is common. The usual cause: a change in schedule. Practice good hygiene and only eat approved food and drink approved water. Wash hands frequently.

3 Dermatological or skin conditions

Complications include heat rashes and athletes' foot. The easy remedy is to launder uniforms and change socks often. Skin conditions have historically been a significant source of non-battle injuries in every American conflict.

2 Respiratory illness

High stress and sometimes crowded conditions can lead to the spread of colds and flu-like symptoms. Mandatory flu shots and good personal hygiene will prevent most outbreaks.

1 Non-battle injuries

The number one problem in the war zone. Injuries occur during work, while playing sports, driving a vehicle, or even stubbing a toe while walking to the dining facility. Good operational risk management may reduce the potential for injuries.

COPYRIGHT 2008 U.S. Air Force, Air Force News Agency
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning