1970 US Army Vietnam Field Hygiene and Sanitation 90p

7/28/2019 1970 US Army Vietnam Field Hygiene and Sanitation 90p.

1/96

M H IC W r3 A R M Y F M 2 1 - 1 0

A IR F O R C E A F M 1 6 1 - 1 0

F I E L D H Y G I E N EA N D

S A N IT A T IO N

DEPARTMENTS O F T H E ARMY AND T H E A I R FORCEJ U L Y 1 9 7 0

TAGO20008A


2/96

F I E L D M A N U A L N o. 21-10A m F O R C E M A N U A L N o . 1 61 -1 0

*FM 21-10/AFM 161-10DEPARTMENTS O F THE A RM YA N D T H E A I R F O R C EW A S H I N G T O N , D .C ., 24 July 1970

F IE L D HYGIENE AND SA N ITATION

C H A P T E R 1. INTRO DUCTIONS E C T I O N I. General _ 1-4 3

II. Resp onsibilities in Field Hygiene and Sanitation 5- 9 3-5C H A P T E R 2 . COMMUNIC A B L E DISEASESS E C T I O N I. General ___________ 10-12 6

II. Essentials in Disease Transmission _ 13-16 6, 7III. Com m unicable Disease Control M easures _____ 17-21 8IV. Com municable Diseases of Military Importan ce _ 22-2 5 9-12

C H A P T E R 3. PE RSO N A L HYGIENES E C T I O N I. Gen era l ___________________________ 26-28 1 4II. M ea sures To Protect an d Im pro ve Health ______ 29 -41 15-18

III. Improvised Hygienic Devices _____ 42-45 19 ,20C H A P T E R 4 . FIELD W A TER SUPPLYS E C T I O N I. General ___________________________. 46 -48 2 2

II. Procurement and Protection of Treated Water Fro m E ng in eer Water Po in ts _________________ 49,50 2 3III. Procurement an d Treatment of Water From Othe r S o urces ______________________________ 51-54 25-28

C HA PTER 5 . FO OD SANITATIONSECTION I. General ___________________________ 55,56 29

II. Protection, Inspection, and Storage of Foo d______ 57-59 29 , 30III. Preparation and Serving of Food ____________ 60-62 30,31IV . Cleaning of Kitchen Facilities _______________ 63-66 32,33V. M ethods for Heating Water ________________ 67 , 68 3 3

VI. Improvised Messkit WashingContainers ________ 69, 7 0 36C H A P T E R 6. W A STE DIS POSALS E C T I O N I. General ___________________________ 71-73 3 7

II. Human Wastes ________________________ 74-77 37-41III. Wash, Bath, and Liquid Kitchen Wastes ________ 78-82 43-45IV . Garbageand Rubbish ____________________ 83, 84 46 , 47

C HAPT E R 7 . MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES A N D THEIR C O N T R O LSECTIO N I. General __,_________________________ 85,86 48

II. Characteristics of Mosquitoes _______________ 87,88 4 9III. Mosquito Con trol Measures _________________ 89-92 50-54

C HA PT E R 8. LOUSE-BORNE DISEASES A N D THEIR CO NTRO LSECTION I. General ___________________________ 93 -9 5 55

II. Characteristics of Lice ___________________ 96,97 55III. Louse Con trol Measures __________..________ 98-102 56-5 8

Th is m an ual supers edes FM 21-10/AFM 160-46 6 May 19 57 .

AGO 20008A


3/96

C H A P T E R 9. FLY-BORNE DISEASES A N D THEIR CONTROLS E C T I O N I. General ___________________ 103-105 59

II. Characteristics of Plies ___________________ 106,107 59III. Fly Control Measures ____________________ 108-112 60

C H A P T E R 10. FLEA-BORNE DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROLS E C T I O N I . General _______________________ 113-115 61

II. Characteristics of Fleas __________________ 116,117 61III. Flea Control Methods ____________________ 118-121 61,62

C H A P T E R 11. TICK- AND MITE-BORNE DISEASE ANDTHEIR C O N T R O LS E C T I O N I . General ___________________________ 122,123 63

II. Ticks _______________________________ 124-127 63,64III. Mites _____________________ 128-130 64, 65

C H A P T E R 12. MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS A N D INSECT-BORNE DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROL ___ 131-139 66-6913. VENOMOUS ANIMALS A ND THEIR CONTROL

S E C T I O N I . Spiders _________________________ 140-143 70,71II. Scorpions __________.._______________ 144-146 70

III. Snakes _____________________________ 147-150 72C H A P T E R 14. RODENT-BORNE DISEASES AND THEIRC O N T R O LS E C T I O N I . General ___________________________ 151-153 73

II. Characteristics of R odents _________________ 154,155 74III. Rodent Control Methods ___________________ 156-159 74,75

C H A P T E R 15. LEECHES AND THEIR CONTROL _________ 160-162 7616. MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES AND THEIRCONTROL _________________________ 163-168 77,7817. HEALTH PROBLEMS RELATED T O EXTREMETEMPERATURES

S E C T I O N I . General ____________________________ 169,170 80II. Hot Temperature _____,__________________ 171-178 80-84III. Cold Temperature ______________________ 179-183 84,85

APPENDIX A . REFERENCES _____________________________ 87INDEX .____________________________________ 88


4/96

CHA PTER 1INTRODUCTION

S e c t i o n I .1. P u r p o s e and S c o p eThis manual provides information and instructionin the use of established, practical measures designed to preserve health and prevent d isease inthe Army and Air Force. It explains the fundamentals of sanitation and their application underfield conditions. It points out the responsibilitiesof command an d of the individual soldier forknowing and observing the rules of sanitation andhygiene, especially as they apply to living conditions and to circumstances peculiar to the militaryservice. This manual is to be used in conjunctionwith other manuals listed in appendix A. The material contained in this manual is applicable toboth nuclear an d nonnuclear warfare except asotherwise noted. The hygiene and sanitation provisions of STANAG No. 2002 and of CENTOSTANAG and SEASTAG No. 2122 havebeen implemented in this manual except that the hygieneimplications of bacteriological warfare in No.2122 are covered in principle, not as a separatetopic.2. Maintenance of ManualUsers of this manual are encouraged to submitrecommended changes or co mments to improvethe manual. Comments should be keyed to the specific page, paragraph, and line of the text in whichthe change is recommended. Reasons will be provided for each comment to insure understandingand complete evaluation. Comments should be pre-

GENERA Lpared using DA Form 2028 (RecommendedChanges to Publications) and forwarded direct toCommandant, ATTN: MEDEW-ZNT, U.S. ArmyMedical Field Service School, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234.3. D e f in i t i o n s

a. Hygiene is the self-employment of practiceswhich will ke ep one healthy. Among these practices are proper eating an d body cleanliness.

b . Sanitation is the effective use of measureswhich will create and maintain healthful environmental co nditions. Among these measures are thesafeguarding of food and water and the control ofdisease-carrying insects an d animals.4. I m p o r t a n c e o f Field Hygiene andS an i ta t i onIn the Armed Forces, manpower is the most valuable asset. Everything possible must be done toconserve this asset. In recent wars more deathshave resulted from enemy actions than from d isease, but disease still causes the greatest loss ofmanpower through disability and time lost fromduty. Success in battlethe ultimate objective ofany military forcedemands that troops be maintained in a constant state of combat readiness.Field hygiene an d sanitation contribute to this effort by employing al l of the measures designed toprotect and im prove the health of Army and AirForce personnel.

S e c t i o n II . RESPONSIBILITIES IN FIELD H Y GIE N E AND SANITATION5. C o m m an d

a. The commanding officer of a military organization is responsible for the health of his command. In the fulfillment of this responsibility, heis assisted by a staff of trained specialists. Usingthe technical advice and guidance of these individuals, he issues orders and enforces measureswhich will most effectively maintain sanitationan d practices conducive to the health and well-

being of his troops. The maintenance of theirhealth and, consequently, their fighting efficiencyis one of his greatest responsibilities.b . The commander's chief advisor in maintaining the health of his troops is the unit surgeon.The surgeon is responsible to him for providingeffective medical services, including treatment ofdisease and injury; devising, recommending, andsupervising activities and training directed to -

AG O 20008A


5/96

ward disease prevention, personal hygiene, andfirst aid; furnishing technical advice and supervision in connectionwith the health aspects of campsites, water supply, food and its preparation,waste disposal, bathing facilities, housing, clothing, and insect and animal control. W hile it isthe commander's direct responsibility to enforcethe practices of field hygiene and sanitation, it isthe surgeon's responsibility to advise what shouldbe do ne. Only in matters involving technicalknowledgedoes the surgeon specify how it shouldbe done. The commander may authorize the surgeon to give orders in his (the commander's)namefor immediate correction of defects in sanitation. Even then, full responsibility remains withthe commander.

c . To provide for the accomplishment of themany time-consuming duties essential to the establishment and maintenance of a healthful fieldenvironment forthe troops, the Army commanderappoints a field sanitation team and makes arrangements for the team members to receive thetraining which they need to ac complish these duties effec tively (AR 40-5). The duties entail performing, instructing, supervising, assisting, inspecting, and reporting, as applicable, to insurethat appropriate field sanitation facilities are established and maintained,thateffective sanitationand control measures are ap plied, and that effective sanitation and protective methods are practiced by the troops. Inthe Air Force, these dutiesare performed by the Preventive M edicine Teamunder the direction of the military public healthofficer.6. Medical Depar tmentsThe Army and Air Force medical departmentshave the mission of conserving the fightingstrength by providing a com plete health service.Certain medica l department personnel serveunderthe surgeon as technical advisors in disease prevention, hygien e, sanitation, an d nutrition. Theyinclude thepreventive medicine officer, theveterinary officer, the bioenvironmental en gineer, thesanitary engineer, the en tomologist, and membersof preventive medicine units. In each comman dto which dental personnel are assigned, a preventive dentistry officer is also designated. Anyor al l of these specialists an d others may beassignedto and utilized in large co mmands . Whenso assigned

a. The preventive medicine off icer recommendsto the surgeon an d the commander a preventivemedicine program which will meet the particularneeds of the command. He supervises the comander's preventive medicine programwhich en

compasses communicable disease control, personalhygiene, environmental sanitation, and nutrition.b . The bioenvironmental engineer, the sanitaryengineer, and the en tomologist serve as assistantsan d technical advisers to the preventive medicine officer and the surgeon regardingproblems of environmental engineering and the control of di sease-carryinginsects an drodents.c. The veterinary officer serves as an assistantand technical adviserto the surgeon and is responsible for the inspection of foods of animal an dnonanimal origins, sanitary inspection of civilianfood establishments, zoonose s co ntrol, and veterinary care and treatment of Govern ment-ownedanimals and authorized privately owned pets.d. Preventive med icine unitscomprised of preventive medicine officers, entomologists, bioenvironmental engineers, sanitary engineers, veterinarians, laboratory specialists, and preventivemedicine specialistssupervise and assist in theexecution of measures of disease control withinthe command as directed by the surgeon.e . Dental personnel assist the commander inmaintainingthe oral health of his troops by providing dental treatment with emphasis on prevention.

7. Army Co rps of Engineers/Air Fo rc eCiv i l Eng inee r sThe Army Corps of Engineers/Air Force CivilEngineers are responsible for the design, construction, and operation of many facilities an dse rvices necessary for the maintenance of health.They plan, construct, and maintain bu ildings,grounds, water treatment plants, an d waste dispo sal facilitiesat semipermanent, as well as permanent, installations. In the field they establishand operatewaterpoints. Although insect and'rodent control for Army units in the field isordinarily a unit responsibility with support furnished bythe Army Medical Department, it may be assignedin certainareas to the Corps of Engineers. Iri'theAir Force, the base civil engineer plans, initiates,and supervisesthe execution of pest control measures . The Air Force M edical Department advisesas to safe use of pesticides and investigates theidentity, source and prevalence of insects and other pests affecting the health, comfort, an defficiencyof personnel.8. Combat Serv ic e Supp o r t Un itsCombat service support units are responsible forfood supply and service, clothing stock an d issue,laundry and dry cleaning facilities, field shower

AGO 2000 8A


6/96

units, an d self-service supply centers. T he y provide for the repair of clothing, footwear, and tent-age. Supplies and materials required for personalhygiene, insect and rodent control, and sanitationare provided under the combat service supportsystem.9. Th e IndividualThe promotion of the health of the service is the

responsibility of every individual member. O neperson's ignorance of or indifference to the practices of military sanitation ca n counteract much ofthe combined effort of the many services workingfor his welfare. For his own sake, as well as forthe sake of his buddies, it is imperative that everyindividual know and observe the rules of hygieneand sanitation and adhere to the principles ofgood health an d good living.

AGO 20008A


7/96

CHAPTER 2C O M M U N I C A B L E DISEASES

S ec t i o n I. G EN ER AL10. Meaning o f Term C o m m u n i c a b l eDiseasesC ommunicable diseases are those illnesses whichca n be transmitted from person to person or fromanimal to person. The term communicable diseasesincludes infectious diseases which result fromclose or direct contact with infected persons; fromexposure to the breath, cough, or bodily dischargeof such persons; or from the bites of animals.Communicable diseases may also be transmittedby food, water, milk, air, insects, and rodents.11. Ty pe s o f O r g a n i s m s W h i c h Ca u seC o m m u n i c a b l e DiseasesOrganisms which cause communicable diseaseshave been classified as viruses, rickettsiae, protozoa, bacteria, yeasts, molds, and worms. Most ofthem are too small to be seen except by means of amicroscope. So m e of them ca n survive for only afew minutes outside the human body; whereasothers ca n survive for years in man's general environment air, water, and earth. When these living, infectious organisms enter the human bodyand begin to multiply or reproduce, they causecommunicable diseases.12. C lass i f i ca t i on of C o m m u n i c a b l e DiseasesC ommunicable diseases may be classified into fivegroups: respiratory, intestinal, insect-borne, ve

nereal, and miscellaneous. T he diseases in eachgroup differ from those in the other groups by themanner in which they are spread, the area of thebody which they affect, and the type of controlneeded to prevent their spreading.a. Respiratory Diseases. These diseases areusually transmitted from person to person by discharges from the nose, mouth, throat, or lungs ofan infected person. Examples: common cold, influenza, pneumonia, streptococcal sore throat, andtuberculosis.6. Intestinal Diseases. These diseases areusually transmitted by food or water which hasbecome contaminated with feces or urine from aninfected human or animal. Examples: typhoid andparatypoid fevers, dysentery, an d cholera.c. Insect-Borne Diseases. These diseases aretransmitted from person to person or from animalto person by insects. Examples: malaria, typhus,an d yellow fever.d. Veneral Diseases. These diseases are transmitted from person to person by sexual intercourse. Examples: syphilis, gonorrhea, an d chancroid.e. Miscellaneous Diseases. T h i s group includesthose communicable diseases which do not fall intoany of the above groups. Examples: tetanus (lockjaw); rabies (hydrophobia), an d dermatophytosis(athlete's foot).

S e c t i on II . ESSENTIALS IN DISEASE T R A N S M I S S I O N13. GeneralEach case of communicable disease is the result ofan orderly progression of a series of events. T h i sseries of events m ay be described as a three-linkchain, each link representing a factor essential tothe transmission of disease. T h ese links are (a)the source of the disease (reservoir), (b ) themeans by which the disease may be transmitted(vehicle), and (c) a susceptible person (fig 1). Ifany on e of the links in the chain is broken, diseasecannot occur (fig 2).

14. Sources of D i sea se (Reservo i r s )T he source of disease may be a case, a carrier, oran animal.

a. Case. A person who is actually ill with a disease is called a case. A case is a common source ofinfection.6. Carrier. A person who harbors disease organisms but who is no t ill is called a carrier. T h i sperson ca n spread the germs in the same manneras the case. Actually, he is more dangerous be-

A GO 20008A


8/96

VEHICLE(M EAN S O FT R AN SMISSION

C A SE PHYSICAL C O N TA C TC A R R IER DR O P L ET S, AIR, DU S TA N I M A L INSECTSW A T E RFOODFOMITESFigure 1. The chainof disease transmission.

VEHICLE(M E A NS O FA N SMISSI

PERSONALB R E A K HYGIENELINKS ISOLAT IONB Y : Q U A R A N T I N ESURVEILLANCETR E A TM E N T

PERSONALHYGIENEEN VIR O N MEN T ALSANITATIONAIRW A T E RFOODW A S T EINSECTS

P E R S O N A LHYGIENEIMMUNIZATIONPROPHYLAXIS

Figure 2. Break in the chain of disease transmission.

cause he may not know that he is harboring theinfectious germs.c . Animal . An animal can actually be ill withdisease or it can harbor the organism, spreading itto humans in either instance. The term animalmeans any member of the animal kingdom, thus

including insects as well as mammals.15. Means o f Disease Transmiss ion(Vehicles)

a. Physicial Contact. Certain diseases arespread by physical contact with an infected person. Examples: syphilis, gonorrhea, an d scabies.6. Droplets, Air, and Dust. Droplets are vehicle sby which a disease may be transmitted from aninfected person to susceptible persons. W hen aninfected person coughs, sneezes, or even talks, he

spreads droplets containing disease germs. Ifother personsareclose to the in fected person, theymay inhale some of these droplets. Furthermore,some germs expelled from the respiratory tractare extremely small and light in weight and mayremain suspended in the air forhours or may beresuspended in dust. Inhalation of these germs bysu sceptible persons may also result in disease.M any of the respiratory diseases are transmittedin these ways .

c. Insects. Flies, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, mites,and lice are among the in sects (properly calledarthropods) which spread disease from person toperson or from animal to person. Insects are involved in both the direct and the indirect transmission of disease . A mosquito, for ex ample, canpick up disease germs when it bites a person sickwith a disease such as malaria. Later, when themosquito bites another person, it injects the disease germs. The mosquito, is, therefore, the veh icle by which the disease is transmitted from oneperson directly to another person. The fly, on theother hand, transmits disease germs indirectly. Itcan pick up disease germs on its body when itcomes in contact with filth and may deposit thesegerms on food. If a person eats this food, he maybecome ill.

d. Water an d Food. Certain disease germs aretransmitted through the consumption of foodssuch as raw fish and improperly cooked meat andpoultry. However, mos t of the diseases which aretransmitted by food and water are the result ofcontamination of the food or water with feces,urine, or other infectious material from a personor animal. Ifwater or food so contaminated is no tproperly treated,the germs therein may infect theconsumer. Outbreaks of Disease will occur whenpersonal hygiene and proper sanitation practicesapplicable to food handling, water purification,water disposal, and the control of flies and othervermin are not properly observed and enforced.Among the diseases usually transmitted by contaminated food or water are typhoid fever, infectious hepatitis, cholera, dysentery, and foodpoisoning.

e. Fomites. Articles contaminated with diseasegerms from an infected person may become vehicles of disease transmission if a su sceptible personuses them. Examples of fomites are contaminatedclothing, bed linen, and eating utensils.16. Suscep t i b l e P e r s o nA susceptible or nonimmune person is one whohas little resistance against a particular organism and who, if exposed tothis organism, is likelyto contract disease. By contrast, an immune person is one who has a high degree of resistance tothe organism and who, when exposed, does notdevelop the disease. Immunity to many diseases is relative an d ca n be overcome by sufficient exposure to the diseases.

AG O 20008A


9/96

S ec t i o n III. C O M M U N I C A B L E DISEASE CON TROL M E A S UR E S

he Army and Air Force are vitally concernedkeeping the individual mentally and physihealthy. T he individual's commanding officermedical officer us e every available means tocertain that he is given the best health proavailable. In this effort al l three factors inin the transmission of communicable disare taken into consideration, namely: theof disease, the means of transmission, andsusceptible person (para 13).

8. C o n t r o l of t h e D i s e a s e S o u rce(Reservo i r )measures for sick individuals (cases),and animal reservoirs include personalisolation, quarantine, medical surveil

and treatment.a. Personal Hygiene. T he spread of germs fromindividuals ca n be prevented or greatlyby carefully observing good personal hyand healthful practices (chap 3).b. Isolation. This is a procedure whereby inindividuals, cases or carriers, are separatedpersons. This separation may beby having the infected individualsto the isolation ward in a hospital. Clothlinens, and other articles used by infectedndividuals must be disinfected and then washedcleaned by the appropriate method to prevent

disease spreading to others.c. Quarantine. T his is the restriction of freedommovement of those individuals who may haveeen in contact with cases and w ho may developand/or further spread the disease.d. Medical Surveillance. T his measure m ay becarried out in two ways(1) When cases or suspects of certain communicable diseases occur in a command, all possibl e contacts m ay be inspected daily during th e incubation period of the disease to detect any new

cases promptly.(2) In the presence of a threatened epidemic,examinations of al l troops may be ordered atstated intervals for the purpose of detecting earlycases.e. Treatment. A ll cases of disease are treated assoon as the occurence is known, thus destroyingthe germs and preventing further spread.

19. C o n t r o l o f t h e M ea n s o f Tr a ns m i s s i on(Veh ic les)The control of the means or the vehicles by which

diseases are transmitted requires that the following measures of environmental sanitation be practiced as rigidly as possible:a. Good personal hygiene by each individual.b. A voidance of overcrowding and close physicalcontact.c. Proper ventilation of living quarters.d. Water purification.e. Careful selection and preparation of food./. Maintenance of high standards of mess sanitation.g. Proper disposal of waste.h. Proper control of disease-carrying insectsand animals.

20. Pr o te c t i on o f t h e S u s c e p t i b l e PersonT he protection of the susceptible person requiresthe use of al l measures necessary to improve ge neral health. It is a well-known fact that the individual who has good mental and physical healthhas good resistance to disease. Other protectivemeasures include

a. Personal Hygiene. T he practice of good perso n hygiene will assist in preventing diseaseagents from entering the body (chap 3).b. Immunization. T his is an excellent control forthose diseases for which immunizations are avail

able (para 21). Immunizations, however, arerarely 100 percent effective in preventing a disease and should be used in conjunction with othercontrol measures.c. Prophylaxis. T his refers to a direct measureused to prevent or to help prevent a disease. Examples of prophylactic measures are the cleansingof the contaminated parts of the body after intercourse to help prevent veneral diseases and thegiving of medications to prevent such diseases asstreptococcal sore throat and malaria. Medications'are to be used only upon the advice of competentmedical authority.

21. Immunity From Diseasea. General. Immunity m ay be defined as the ability of a person to resist the invasion of diseasegerms. Most persons are born with a high level ofimmunity which is derived from their mothers;but this immunity is lost within a fe w monthsafter birth. T he immunity which adults possess isusually acquired after birth in one of the following ways :

8 A G O 2 0 0 0 8 A


10/96

(1 ) Natural immunity. A person may acquireimmunity to certain diseases by becom inginfectedwith the germs which cause the diseases. Theinfection m ay cause a typical case, or it may be somild that the disease is not recognized. In eitherinstance the body may build up enough resistanceto protect the person from contracting the diseasea second time. This protection, however, developsonly with certain infections such as measles,mumps, diphtheria, and chickenpox. There aresome diseases against which the body is unable topro duce an effective or lasting immunity. A person may, therefore, contract them many times.Examples are gonorrhea and the common cold.(2 ) Artificial immunity. In the case of som einfections which result in naturally acquired immunity, it is possible to stimulate this immunityby injecting a vaccine (weakened or killed organisms or their products) into the person's body.This process is called vaccination or immunization. Usually, in order to provide a protecting levelof immunity , it is necessary to give several dosesof the vaccine at successive intervals of a fewweeks or a few months. This is called initial series. Thereafter, because the immunity is gradually lost, it is necessary to give "booster" doses atperiodic intervals in order to restore an adequatelevel of resistance. At the present time effectiveartificial immunizations are av ailable for a limitednumber of diseases: smallpox, typhoid, tetanus,

diphtheria, cholera, epidemic typhus, plague, yellow fever, measles, poliomyelitis, and several others. Artificial immunization against a specific disease, however, does not provide absolute protection against the disease. Consequently, a personmust not become lax in the practice of protectivemeasures such as personal hygiene and sanitationbecause he has been immunized.b . Immunization Program and Record. A s protection against certain diseases the Army and AirForce require that all personnel receive immunizations.

(1) A ll military personnel are immunizedagainst some of the common diseases encounteredwithin the continental United States and in mos toversea areas. After the initial immunization series, booster doses are given from time to time toinsure the maintenance of a protective degree ofim m unity. Special immunizations also may begiven to personnel, depending upon the circumstances. For specific immunization requirements,reference is made to A R 40-562/AFR 161-3.

(2) The customary body site for immunization injections is the outer surface of the upperarm. It is not unusualfor the surrounding areatobecome red , swollen, and painful.(3) A ll immunizations are recorded on th eindividual's immunization record which becomes apart of hispermanent health record.

Sec t i on IV. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES OF MILITARY IMPORTANCE22. Diseases S pr e ad b y t h e Res p i r a t o r yR o u t eRespiratory infections account for the highest incidence of disease in the Army. They occurthroughout the year but are most common duringwinter and spring. While all troops are affected,the highest rates of infection occur among basictrainees and unseasoned troops. The principal diseases spread among civilian populations by therespiratory route are chickenpox, common cold,bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, diphtheria, m easles, German measles, influenza, meningitis,mumps, pneumonia, scarlet fever, streptococcalsore throat, an d tuberculosis.

a . Methods of Transmission. Disease spread bythe respiratory route are transmitted by secretions from the respiratory tract, particularlythrough close association with an infected person.The disease-producing organisms leave the bodyof the case or the carrier (para 14) in small droplets of moisture during coughing, sneezing, ortalking. These droplets m ay be inhaled directly byother persons. Some of the smaller droplets lose

their moisture by evaporation and become solidmasses of dried germs. Being very light, thesegerm particles float in the air from long periods oftime. If they are inhaled by a susceptible individua l, they can cause disease. Harmful organismsfrom the m outh or nose may also contaminate thehands, food, eating and drinking utensils, an dtowels from which they m ay be carried to themouths of others.b . Control Measure s. The principal difficulty inthe prevention and control of diseases spread by

the respiratory route lies in the fact that mostindividuals are susceptible to them. Another difficulty is that an infected person is usu ally transmitting thedisease to others before he experiencesany symptoms or realizes that he is infectious.There are numerousmeasures used to control orreduce these diseases. When used intelligently,they are very effective. The most important measures are described as follows:(1) Personal hygiene. Each soldier is responsible for protecting his health as well as the healthof his fellow soldiers by practicing good personal

A GO 20008A


11/96

hygiene. He must washhis hands frequently withoap and water to remove germs. W hen coughing sne ezing, he must cov er his no se an d mouthwith a handkerchief. He mustnot use the drinkingcups, canteens, towels, or any personal belongingsof others. He must av oid close contactwith thosepersons who have co lds in the ne w, fresh, or acutestage.(2) Immunization. This is an ex cellent preventive measure forthose diseases for which im munizations are available (para 21).(3) Avoidance of overcrowding. It is a wellknow n fact that overcrowding is an importantactor in the spread of respiratory infections.How ever , overcrowding is more likely to occur inbarracks during bas ic com ba t training than in thefi eld . During basiccombat trainingeach man is tohav e 72 square feet of floor space in the barracks,exclusive of stairs,halls, and latrines. The recommended space for all other troops is also 72 square

feet, but thismay not alwaysbe po ssible. The minim um is not to be less than 55 square feet ex cep tfor temporary peak-load periods during which aminimumof 40 squarefeet per man is permissible.As the space per person is reduced, ho wev er , theincidence of respiratory diseases can be expectedto increase. In theAir Force, barrackspace allocations are made in accordance with AFR 161-6.App licable for the Air Force only, a minimum of 72 square feet of floor space is reco mmend ed foreach individual in open bay barracks, an d a minimum of 62 square feet per occupantin dormitorieshousing not morethan four men per room.(a) Ifbe ds are less than 5 feet apart, individuals sho uld sleep head-to-foot. The purpose ofthis arrangement is to put as much distance aspo ssible betwee n the respiratory tractsof person ssleeping in adjacentbunks.(6) When respiratorydiseases arepresentand crowding cannot be avoided , the individualcubicle system should be used. The most effectivecubicle sy stem is one which completely separateseachbunkfrom the on e on each side by a partitionwhich extends from the floor to the ceiling; how

ever this may not be practical in al l cases. Thefollowin g method may also be used in makingcubicles: Attachapole to the head of each bed. Toeach of these poles, attach on e end of a shelter,half, blanket, or sheet; secure theotherend to thefoot of the bed; tuck the portion which is notneeded smooth ly under the mattress (f ig. 3).(4 ) Ventilation. Good ventilation, either bynatural or mechanical means, has a double objectivehealth an d comfort. Proper ventilation willdilute the number of bacteria in the atmosphere,thereby reducing the number that may be inh aled.

Figure S. Constructionof cub icles.(5) Dustcontrol. Dustparticlescarrygerm s.Germs from the nose and throatcling to the dustparticles and may reach a susceptible person bythe airborne route unless proper dust controlmeasuresarecarried out. Th e raisingof dust canbe greatlydecreased by forbidding dry sw ee ping.Water, wet sawdust, or sweeping co mpoundshould be used. M opping ca n be substituted forsw ee ping. Oiling of unfinished wood floors is anexcellent means ofdust co ntrol .(6) Kitchen sanitation.Dishes, cook ing utensils, and kitchen equipment must be cleaned an ddisinfected after each meal. Foo d handlers mustbe strictly supervised and thoroughly trained in sanitary food handling practices (chap 5). Sincethey can infect others through the food they prepare or serve, theirpersonal hygiene isespeciallyimportant. Furthermore, each morning or at thebeginning of each work shift, al l food handlersmust be inspected for illnesses by the supervisor.Individuals whoare ill are sent to amedical facilityand are returnedto food handlingduties whenthey are no longer infectious.(7 ) Prophylaxis. As a prophylactic measure ,certain drugs may be given to every member ofthe co mmand for the purpose of combating suchep ide mic diseases as streptococcalsore throat.(8) Isolation of ca ses. Unless the med ical .o fficer advises otherwise, al l kno wn cases should behospitalized or otherwise separated from healthypersons (para 18b).(9 ) Quarantine and surveillanc e of contacts.The se measures are carried ou t as de scribed in

paragraph 18cand d.23. In tes t inal Diseas esIntestinal diseases usuallyare caused by the contamination of food and water with germs fromhuman feces or urine. For this reason they aresometimes called "filth diseases." Such contamination of food and water results ch iefly from po orhygiene and po or sanitation, both of which can be co ntrolled by good, common-sense practices ofcleanlines s. Persons who keep their hands an dbod ies clean and who consume only food and water

10 AGO 20 00S A


12/96

that have been properly prepared and treatedseldom develop these diseases. The problem of intestinal diseases exists in most parts of the worldand requires constant vigilance, especially in areaswhere native sanitation is primitive. These diseases m ay affect large number of troops at thesame time and cause a serious loss of fightingstrength. Even with the relatively good sanitationmaintained in the American Army camps ofWorld War II, records show a total of nearly1,000,000 hospital admissions for filth-borne diseases during that period. Moreover in 1958 whenthe U.S. Forces entered Lebanon at the requestofthe host government, the incidence of the diar-rheal and dysenteric diseases exceeded 3,000 casesper 1,000 troops exposed on an annual basis. Unitswere at t imes noneffective due to the prevalence ofthe filth-borne diseases. Troops sometimes usedthe terms "GI's," "cramps," or "diarrhea" to describe their intestinal illnesses. The medical service, however, uses more specific terms. Intestinaldiseases of the greatest military importance aretyphoid fever, paratyphoid fever, amebic dysentery, bacillary dysentery, cholera, infectious hepatitis, and bacterial food poisoning.

a. Methods of Transmission. The m ost commonmeans of transmission of intestinal diseases areoften referred to as the 5 F's: feces, fingers, flies,fo od, and fluids. The principal source of the organism which cause intestinal diseases is the feces ofman: however these organisms m ay be present insuch foods as beef, pork, fish, poultry, and eggswhich hav e been improperly prepared. Food m ayalso be contaminated with these organisms by rodents. The organisms m ay be transmitted in anyof the following ways:(1 ) Food may be contaminated by infectedfood handlers who are careless or dirty in theirpersonal habits or by the houseflies which carrygerm s directly from the latrine to the mess hallan d th e kitchen. A lso, germs m ay be carried directly to the mouthby feces-contaminated fingers.(2 ) Carcasses of beef, pork, poultry, and fishmay be contaminated with germs from the intestines of these animals by improper or careless dressing procedures. Eggs can becom e fecallycontaminated by the fo wl on the nest. Inadequateor improper cooking of these foods permits thegerms to survive and infect the consumer. Anysource of foods of animal origin which has notbee n inspected and approved should be considereda potential health hazard.(3 ) Natural sources of water, such as lakesand streams, are often polluted by drainage fromlatrines and sewers. Springs an d wells may besimilarly contaminated. In the field an y carelessdisposal of human waste is a source of danger.

Such waste material may drain into a nearbywater source or furnish a breeding place forflies. (4 ) Rodents frequently urinate or defecate onfoods to which they have access and in this waycontaminate the foods with disease organisms.b . Control Measures (fig 4). The mos t effectivemeasures for preventing intestinal diseases arethose which control the reservoir of the diseasesand the vehicles by which they are transmitted;however all possible measures must be utilized.(1 ) All sources of foods must be inspectedand approved; and must be carefully selected, inspected, and protected at al l times .(2 ) Food handlers must be carefully selected,properly trained, strictly supervised, and inspected daily to insure sanitation in the handling,preparing, cooking, and storingof foods .(3) Personal hygiene, particularly washingthe hands after each visit to the latrine an d beforeeating or otherwise handling food, must be practiced by everyone.(4 ) Unapproved water sources must beavoided. All water is to be considered contaminated and unsafe to drink unless it has been properly treated and approved for drinking purposes.(5 ) All human andother wastes must be disposed of properly.(6 ) Insects and rodents must be effectivelycontrolled to prevent contamination of food andeating utensils.(7 ) Immunizations must be maintained in acurrent status.

c . Report and Investigation of Outbreak. Casesof intestinal disease should be reported to the unitsurgeon as soon as detected so that he may takethe necessary steps to investigate the cause of theoutbreak.24. In s e c t -B o rn e DiseasesThe terminsects as used in this manual refers tomosquitoes, flies, fleas, lice, ticks, mites, chiggers,spiders, and scorpions which are properly calledarthropods. Insects affect the health of humanbeings (1) by transmittingdisease agents, (2) byinjecting venoms, (3) by invading living tissue,and (4 ) by annoyance. The principal insect-bornediseases include some of the most common andmost serious epidemics of mankind, such as malaria, plague, yellow fever, and the typhus fevers.They are m ost common in the tropics but m ayoccur in most parts of the world. Uncontrolled,they ca n cripple large military forces and haveoften done so . The principal in sect-borne diseases;and the insects which transmit them are listed asfollows:

AGO 20008A 11


13/96

C O NT R O L O F C O NT R O L OF P R O T E C T I ONR E S E RV OI R T RA NS MI T T I N G OF S US C EP T I B L E SV E HI C L E S

I S OL A T I O N OFC A S ED E T E C T I O N A N DI S OL A T I O N OFC AR RI E R SEXAMI NAT I ON OFF O O D HANDLERS

FO O DSC A R E F U LS E L E C T I ON ,I N SP E C T I ON,ANDP R OT E C T I O N

OF F O O D SP R O P E RP R E P A RA T I ONOF FO O DS1 E S S S A NI T A T I ON

F L I E S ,O T H E R I N SE C T S ,A N D R O D E N T SC O N T R O L OFB R E E DI N G

F E C E SP R O P E R DI S P OS A LOF A L L W A S T E S

F I N GE R SP E R S O N A LC L E A NL I N E S SF L U I DS

P A S T E UR I Z AT I ONOF MI L KS E L E C T I ONOF S A F EW A T E R S U P P L YP UR I F I C AT I ONO F W A T E R

E DU C AT I O N I NPERSONALH Y GI E N E A N DS ANI T A T I ON

I MMUNI ZATI ON

Figure 4. Factorsin the control ofintestinal diseases.Disease Insect

fever __________Mosquito(sleeping sickness) ______________Mosquito(elephantiasis) _Mosquitoa ______________Mosquito fever ___________Mosquitous fever (epidemic) __Body lo useMountain spotted fever -Ticktyphus __________Larval mite (chigger)plague ________Fleafever (murine) ____Flea__________Sand fly (Phlebotomus)and fly fever or Phlebotomusfever ______________Sand fly (Phlebotomus)__________Black fly (buffalo gnat)disease _________Conenosed bug (kissing

bug)c. Methods of Transmission. Disease agents areby insects in tw o general ways: Theirstcalled mechanical transmissionis one inhich the disease organisms are picked up on theody or th e legs of the insect vector and are thendeposited on food, drink, or open sores. An exame of this method is the transfer of typhoid or

dysentery organisms from fecal matter. The secondcalled biological transmissionis one inwhich the insect becomes infected with an organism by biting a diseased human or animal; th eorganism which develops in the body of th e insectvector later is transmitted to a susceptible individual by a bite, as in the case of malaria, or lesscommonly by contamination of chafed skin withth e body juices or feces of the vector, as in th ecase of louse-borne typhus. Certain species of bees,wasps, scorpions, and spiders inject poisonswhich can produce symptoms of varying severity.When gnats, mosquitoes, flies, ants, and otherpests become sufficiently numerous, they can affectthe health of man by their continuous annoyance.

6 . Control Measures. Control measures are directed primarily toward the sources of infection(human beings and animals) an d toward thetransmitting insects. The sources of in fection arecontrolled through personal hygiene, surveillance,isolation, quarantine, and treatment. The transmitting insects are controlled through the practiceof field sanitation, individual protective m easures,and chemical measures. All of these insect controlmeasures are discussed in detail in subsequentchapters of this manual.Note. In order to protect the environment from adverse effects of persistent pesticides or those for whichhazard may exist through normaluse, therewill be restrictions on the use and availability of such items in CO NU Sand in overseaareas for other than emergency situations.Before any pesticide is used in control programs, the M edical Department should be consulted for appropriate

guidance.25. Veneral DiseasesHistorically, veneral diseases have been a problemof both civilian and military communities . Theyare of concern to th e military because of th e so ldier, removed from his home en vironment, maytravel to areas where promiscuity is common andveneral diseases are prevalent. Although withmodern treatment these diseases are no longersuch important causes of time lost, they m ay beserious to the individual wh o is affected. There arefive commonly recognized types of veneral diseases, each of which is caused by a differentgerm. An individual m ay contract more than oneof these diseases as th e result ofa single exposure.Of th e five types of veneral diseases listed below,the first three are th e most common.

Gonorrhea (clap, dose, gleet, strain)Syphilis (pox, bad-blood, lues)Chancroid (soft chancre, bubo)Lymphogranuloma venereum (tropical bubo)G ranulom a inguinale (tropical sore)12


14/96

a. Methods of Transmission. Veneral diseasesarealmost alwaysacquired by sexu al contact withan infected indiv idual. The lesions (sores) areusually on thegenitals, anddirectcontact withthelesion or withmaterial fromthe lesio n is the usualm ethod of transmission. In rare ca ses when aninfected person has a lesio n about the m outh ,sy philis may be transmitted by kissing.b. Con tro l Program. A veneral .diseas e control

programmust be broad in scope. Its effectivenessde pen ds on intelligent cooperation am ong manyindividuals . In the venereal disease control program of the A rmy, particular emphasis is place das follows:(1 ) Responsibilities. The unit com m an der isresponsible for initiating and maintaining a veneral diseas e control program within his command. Hisstaffofficers pro vide himwith information an d advice as to suitable control measures.The real responsibility or prevention, however ,rests with the individual, since thesediseases aretransmitted bysex ual contact. Each soldier is personally respons ible for the developmen t and maintenan ce of his character, his self-respect, his personal hygiene, and hishealth.(2) C ha ra cter guidance. The Army's character guidance program and the Air Force's moralleadership program areaids to the commander inpromoting and maintaining a healthymental andm oral attitude am ong the personnel under hiscommand. The programs are designed to encourag e the individual to develop moral responsibilityand sel f-discip line. It pertains to all of the soldier's interests and activities.(3 ) Reduction of so urc es. Venereal diseases that oc cur am ong military personnel are for them ost part contracted from promiscuous wom enin the civilian population. In order to control thesources of in fec tion, the Army and the Air Forcemust work closely with the civilian agencies concerned. The following m ethods ca n be used toreducethesources of infection:(a) Contact tra cin g. After a case of veneral disease is diagnosed or detected, all sources of sex ua l contact sh ould be ex am ined and, if foundinfected, placed under treatment. In this mannerthe reservoir of infection ca n be reduced. The individual who has contracted veneral disea se isexpected to sup ply information aboutthe se x partner involved. This confidential information is forthe use of healthauthorities only and will not be

disclose d; furthermoreno disciplinary action willresult.(b) U se of "off limits" restrictions. Inorder to decrease the possibility of contact, kn ownhouses of prostitution and establishments where"pickups" loiter mustbe placed "o ff limits" tomilitarypersonnel (A R190-90/AFR125-43).(c ) Repression of prostitution. Prostitutionis not tolerated by the Army nor the Air Force.

The unit com m and er is responsible for securingfull co m pl iance with the spirit as well as with theletter of regulations covering the repression ofprostitution (A R 190-90/AFR 125-43).(4) C ontinence . The m ost ef fec tive way ofguarding against contracting venereal disease isto abstain from promiscuous sexual relations.Promiscuity increases the chances of developingve ner eal disease. The belief held by some peoplethat sexual intercourse is necessary to maintainhealthis fa lse.(5)Education in sex hygiene. All soliders and

Airmen are instructed in matters of sex hygieneand the nature of venereal disea se . Facts shouldbepresented honestlyand clearly.(6) Prophylaxis. Individuals who exposeth em selves to the riskof venereal infection shouldemplo y as a measure of protection the materialsand facilitiesrecom mended bythe m edical service.Good protection is af fo rded by mechanical pro phylaxis (condoms, rubbers) if used properly.Thes e areno t items of issuebutmaybepurchasedin Army/Air Force ex changes. The degree ofprotectionm ay be increased by thorough washingof the genitals with so ap and water as soon asfeasible after ex posure.

c . Treatment. Mostcases of venereal disea se cannow be cured if proper treatmentis started ea rly.Any sore on the genitals or any discharge fromthe penis may be avenereal disease; therefore anysuch sym ptoms should be reported to the m edicalofficer im mediately. One should not seek out sidehe lp, consult quacks, or try ho me or drugstoreremedies . A vo idance of themedica l officer in suchcases is the surestway toco m plications anddisaster. Contracting V D is no t cau se fordisciplinaryaction; however a solider who suspec ts or knowsthat he has ven ereal diseasebutfails to reportforproper med ical treatment or on e who violates "offlimits" orders by enteringa house of prostitutionissubject to disciplinary action.

AG O 20008A 13


15/96

C H A P T E R 3P E R SO NA L HYGIENE

S e c t i on I. G E N E RA Lo f t h e Term Pers ona l H y g i e n e

hygiene is the practice of health rules byindividual to safeguard his own health and theof others. Personal hygiene is often thoughtas being the same as personal cleanliness. Yet,of the body is important, it is bute of the many essentials of healthful living.I m p o r t a n c e o f Pers ona l Hygiene toHealthefficient military unit is a carefully planned,well-trained fighting team. It is athat carries no substitutes. When any teamis absent or sick, teamwork suffers. C ar eof on e member of the unit in regard to hishygiene may lead to disease which maythe entire unit. Personal hygiene co nto health in several ways

a. It protects the individual against diseasethat are present in the environment.b. It protects the unit by reducing the spread ofc. It promotes healtha state of maximumand mental well-being above and beyondmere absence of disease.d. It improves morale.

R es pons ib i l i t i e s in Maintaining P er so n a lH y g i e n ea. The Individual. A person's fulfillment of the

of honorable military service involvesthe best job possible in any given assignThis demands, among other things, that themaintain hi s health and physical fitnessthe highest level and that he do everything po sto protect and promote the health of themembers of hi s organization. T h i s calls for aunderstanding and continual application ofhygiene measures. This also requires that

he seek needed medical care without delay in orderto avert more serious illness, hasten recovery, andprevent the spread of disease. T he Army and AirForce provide for its members a medical service ofthe highest possible caliber; therefore the individua l has no reason for delaying needed medicalcare, for resorting to self-treatment, or for seeking treatment from unauthorized sources. A ll suchactions could prove dangerous.b. Commander. T he unit commander is responsible for

(1 ) Providing and maintaining facilities,equipment, and supplies necessary for the personal hygiene of his command.(2) Insuring that the members of his command are instructed in the essentials of personalhygiene.(3 ) Insuring the practice of personal hygienemeasures. H e must obtain the cooperation of each

individual in maintaining good health and physical fitness for the job.c. Medical Officer. T he unit surgeon is the technical advisor on hygiene and sanitation. A s such,he or his assistants

(1) Conduct instruction in personal hygiene.(2 ) Carry out inspections and observations ofpersonnel and facilities.(3 ) R e com m e nd correction of any defects.(4 ) Provide medical treatment.

d. Dental Officer. T he senior dental officer is thetechnical advisor to the commander regarding theoral fitness of his troops. T o prevent oral diseaseand injury, the preventive dentistry officer an dother dental personnel(1) C o n d uc t instruction and educational programs in good oral hygiene and emphasize theneed for regular dental attention.(2 ) Perform preventive measures an d treatments.

A GO 20008A


16/96

Sec t ion II. MEASURES TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE HEALTH29. GeneralThe measures which theindividual may applypersonally to prevent disease and to promote healthand physica l fitness are discussed in detail in paragraphs 30 through 41 under the fo llowin g headings:

a. Personal cleanliness.b . Careof themouthan d teeth.c . Care of the feet.d . Food and drink.e. Exercise./. Rest and recreation.g. Protectionagainstthe elements.k. Protection against disease-carrying insects.i. Avoidance of the sources of disease.j. Special protective measures.f c . Cultivation of ahealthymind.I . Rules foravoiding illness in the fi eld .

30. Personal Cleanl ines sEven before it was kno wn ho w the germs of disease were spread, civilized people gave attentionto personal clea nliness because of a desire toplease themselves as well as to be attractive to others. N ow it is known thattherearealso soundmedical reasons for kee ping the bod y clean. Dirt,filth, and invisible disease germs are inseparable.Keeping the body and clothing clean is a sim ple,effectivemean s of reducing the number of diseasegerms which could invade the body.

a. The Skin. The body should be washed frequ en tly fromhead to foo t with soap an d water. Ifno tub or shower is available and one cannot beim provised (para45), the body shou ld be cleanedwith a cloth and soapy water, paying particularattention to the body creases (armpits, groin, andcrotch), theface, the ears,the hands, the feet, andunder the foreskin. Infections, cuts, and burnssho uld have prompt treatment at a medical facil ity. Some of the more common an d troublesomediseases of theskin are discussed in chapter 16 .

b . The Hair. The hair should be kept neatlycom bed an d trimmed, preferably tw o inches orless in length. At least once a week the hair andscalp should be sham pooed with soap an d water.The soldier/Airman should be clean shaven. Hemay wear a neatly trimmed, conventionallysh ape d mustache. Combs, brushes, an d razorsshould not be shared with otherpe rsons.

c . Hand s. Fingernails should be kept closelytrimmed and clean. The hands should be washed(with soap and warm water, if avai lable) afterany dirtywork,after each visit to the latrine, andbefore touching food or food utensils . Effectivehand-washing devices can be im provised as. discussed in paragraph 43. The habits of no se-picking, nail-biting, and unnecessary scratching willcause contamination of the hands and of thethings later touched by the hands. These habits,which are unpleasant to see and unhealthy for thein div idual , shou ld be co ntrolled. Coughs andsneezes should be smothered in a tissue or handkerchief or at leastdirected away from other persons. Fingers and other contaminated objectsshould be kept ou t of themouth.d. Clothing and Bedding. Clothin g ea sily becomes contaminatedwith any disea se germs thatmay be present in the stool, in the urine, or in

secretions of the nose an d throat. Underclothin g,if po ssible, should be ch anged daily. Outer cloth ing should be washed or cleaned whe n it becomes soiled. Shaking of clothing follow ed by a2-hour airing an d sunning will greatly reduce thenumber of disease germs on it. The shaking shou ldalways be done ou t of doors. At least once a weekthebedsheetssho uld bechanged; andthe blankets,pillow s, and mattresses should be aired andsunned .31. Car e of the Mo u th and the Teet h

a. Fundamentals of Ora l Hygiene.Regular andproper cleansing of the mou th an d the teethpreven t tooth decay an d gum disease, both of whichca n cause the individual severe pain and loss ofteeth. Th e most healthful oral hygiene, whichshould be practiced whenever possible, is tocleanse the mouth and teeth thoroughly and correctly after each meal witha toothbrushandfluor-ide dentifrice an d to remov e food de bris whichhasac cumula ted between the teeth with dental floss,stimudents, or too thpicks. W hen the situationmake s this impractical, the so ldier should thoroughly cleanse his mouth an d teeth at least onceeach day, using improviseddevices if nec essary . Ifa dentifrice is not available , the toothbrushshou ldbe used without one. In the absence of a toothbrush, twigs cut from a tree an d frayed on theend s to resemble toothbrush bristles can be used.Twig s can also be cut in the formof toothpicksforuse in removing material caught betw ee n theteeth. If necessary, piece s of clean cloth can beused to wipe away food debris which has collectedon the teeth. Rubbing the gum tissues vigorouslyAG O 20 00 8A 15


17/96

ith a clean finger will stimulate them to betterealth.b . Care of Dentures an d Bridges. It must bethat replacements forlost natural teeththe form of dental prosthetic appliances aresubstitutes. In no instance should it be as med that a replacement is equal or superior tol teeth. The degree of successful usage thatn be expected of these replacements depends to a

extent upon the careand maintenance givenby the wearer. Cleansing of removable anddental appliances is of greatest importanceshould be accomplished with as much care ascleansing of natural teeth. Distorted or damdentures ca n be harmful to mouth tissuesshould be repaired, adjusted, or replaced by aofficer. The tissue under the dentures alsouires attention. It should be brushed regularlystimulation. Furthermore, the denturesbe removed at night or for a 3- or 4-hourduring the day.

c . Tooth Restorations. Silver fillings, gold ingold or porcelain crowns, and other types of are also substitutes for lost toothand have varying degrees of functionalitations. The use of good judgment regardinglimitations will be the determining factor inoverall functional effectiveness of the teeththe health of the mouth. Damaged or lo st fillsh ould be replaced. Good oral hygiene alsoupon the periodic examination and carethe teeth and the mouth by a dental officer.Care o f th e Feet

and wars are still being fought by the footProper care of the feet is essential to theof physical fitness. Serious foot troule usually can be prevented by observance of thesimple rules:a. Foot Hygiene. The feet should be washedand dried thoroughly, especially between thePersons whose feet .perspire freely shouldy foot powder lightly and evenly twice a day.b . Properly Fitted Shoes. In the field only fo otissued by the combat service support unitsbe worn . Expert fitting at the time of issueabsolutely essential. There should be no bindingpressure spots; neither should the footgear belarge that it will permit the foot to slide forand backward when walking.c . Clean, Properly Fitted Socks. Socks should beand washed daily. They should be largeto allow the toes to move freely but no t soose that they wrinkle . Woolen socks should be at

least one size larger than cotton socks to allow forshrinkage. Socks with holes or poorly darnedsocks may cause blisters. Different types of sock sare provided for various footgear; their properuse s should be learned at the time they are issued.d . C ommon Foot Troubles. Blisters, corns, bunions, ingrown toenails, and fungus infections arethe most co mmon ca uses offoot trouble.

(1 ) Blisters ca n usually be prevented bywearing properly fitted shoes and socks. Shoesshould be broken in slowly an d socks should beclean and hole-free. If a blister does develop, itshould be treated as prescribed in FM 21-11/AFP50-55.

(2 ) Ingrown toenails develop when nails areimproperly cut. A person should trim his toenailsstraight across rather than following the contourof his toes. If tenderness develops in thenailbedoralong the edge of the nail, he should report to themed ical officer.(3 ) Athlete's foo t (dermatophytosis) is the

most common infection of the feet. It can usuallybe prevented by proper care of the feet (a above)andby takingcertainprecautions (para 166).e. Immersion Foot. Immersion or constant w etness of the feet for a period exceeding 48 hoursusually results in immersion foot and disabilityeventhough the exposurehas been to warm water.In this condition thesoles of the feet become wrinkled and white, an d standing or walking becomesextremely painful. The feet return to normal inabout 24 hours if exposure is terminated. This

condition can be prevented by avoiding prolongedimmersion of the feet and by drying the feet during restperiods./. Special Care of th e Feet on F oot Marches(FM 21-18). The foot march is the severest test offitness of the feet. Unless special attention is given to the feet of marching troops, serious casualtiesfrom fo ot troubles will result.

(1) Prior to the march. Well in advance ofthemarch unit officers should insure that al l menare equipped with the proper type of correctlyfi tted broken-in footgear; with thenecessary nu mber of correctly fitted, clean socks which are freeof holes or bunchy darns; and with an adequatesupply of fo ot powder. A person must never attempt to break in a ne w pair of shoesor boots on along march. Any blisters, pressure spots, andinfections should be treated and properly protected beforethe march starts.

(2 ) O n the march. The feet sh ould be kept asdry as possible. If socks become dam p from perspiration or wet from weather or surface water,they sh oul d be changed for dry ones at the first

6 AG O 20008A


18/96

opportunity. If necessary, socks may be dried byputting them under the shirt around the waist.Tender pressure spots should be relieved promptlyby adjusting gearorapplying adhesive tape. O nc eor twice daily during the march, the feet should bedusted lightly with foot powder.(3 ) At rest periods. The feet should beinspected from t ime to time and preventive m easures applied before serious trouble develops. Persistent complaints should be brought to the attention of the medical aidman or other medicalpersonnel. If possible, the feet should be washedduring the noon break. It is helpful to elevate thefeet while resting. This reduces congestion andswelling. The unit commander should also makeperiodic checks for foot complaints and insure thatcorrective measures are applied.(4 ) In bivowc. A ll used socks should bewashed thoroughly with soap and water, stretchedto facilitate drying, and hung in the sun or in anair current. Woolen socks should be washed in coo lwater to lessen shrinkage.33. Food an d Dr in kFor proper development, strength, and survival,the hum an body requires the following variety offood substances: proteins for developing muscle,fats an d carbohydrates for energy, minerals forblood and bone, certain essential vitamins, an9water. The Army/Air Force ration contains theseessential food substances in adequate amountsandproper balance. They are adjusted to meet the special requirements of climate and activity. A normal, healthy appetite usually will insure the intakeof adequate amounts of al l essential substances.Only occasionally is it necessary to provide su pplements, such as salt in hot climates or vitamintablets for special nutrition. The common beverages (soft drinks, tea, and coffee) contribute littleto the diet nutritionally, but they do no harm iftaken in moderation. Alcohol, if taken in m orethan small quantities, impairs judgment and slowsthe reflexes, contributes to overweight, and maybe habit-forming. The nutritional beverages aremilk and fruit juices.34. Exerc i seRegular exercising of muscles and joints is necessary in maintaining physical stamina and goodhealth. Military duties usually impose a considerable amo unt and variety of physical activity. Training schedules ordinarily include periods of supervised physical training. When such physical training is no t included in the individuals schedule, heshould participate voluntarily in some form of exercise or sports. Both the supervised and volun

tary exercises should be appropriate for the age and physical condition of the individual. Exercisesshould be stopped before extreme fatigue or exhaustion occurs.35. Rest an d Recrea t ionO ur bodies require regular periods of rest to restore physical and mental vigor. Seven or eighthours of unbroken sleep each night is desirable.The individual, however, must learn to m ake himself comfortable and to obtain rest under conditions less than ideal. H e must learn to us e theshelter half, the blanket, and the sleeping bag assubstitutes for the barracks and the bed. In thecourse of his daily sc hedule he should use his restperiods to obtain a change either from physicalexertion to complete rest or from mental activityto physical activity as the case may be . Part of hisoff-duty time should be devoted to pleasant recreation such as social and religious activities, av ocations, hobbies, and sports.36. Pro tec t ion A g a i n s t t h e E le m e n t sIn both training and combat thesoldier/airmanisoften exposed to the full forces of the elements:heat, co ld, rain, mud, andwind in situations whichmake it impossible for him to give the normalthought an d care to his comfort. For his protection against these forces of nature, he is providedwith the best equipment available. If he is to survive the hardships of training and combat, he mustlearn to us e this equipment properly. A m ong theimportant adverse effects of the elements arefrostbite, trench foot, heat exhaustion, heatstroke,and sunburn. These co nditions and their prevention aredescribed in detail in chapter 17 .37. Pro tec t ion A g a i n s t Disease-Car ry ing In s ectsCleanliness of the body and clothing is the firstline of defense against body parasites. In certainsituations special measures must be used to control body lice, mosquitoes, fleas, and other insects.These measures are discussed in detail in subsequent chapters.38. A v o id a n c e o f t h e Sources o f DiseaseThrough the application of a variety of measures,the Army/Air Force attempts to make the individual's surroundings as healthful as possible. Thesemeasures include the provisions for water andfood which are free of disease germs and poisonsand for facilities which are adequate for theproper disposal of body wastes. They also includeth e elimination of insects and rodents. Further-

AGO 20008A 17


19/96

more,certain special procedures such as drug prophylaxis, immunization, and the detection andtreatment of cases of communicable disease areapplied. Ultimately, how ever, the health of thetroops depends upon the consistent, intelligent application of the rules of healthful living by eachnd every member of theunit. The soldier/airmanmust avoid food and drink which may possibly becontaminated; he must protect himselfagainst insects; and he must not expose himself unnecessarily to the germs of venereal disease, dysentery,malaria, and a host of other infectious diseases.He must definitely avoid close association with natives in areas where sanitation and hygiene arestill in a primitive state.39. Special Protec t i ve MeasuresIn each geographical area, climate, and living situation, special health hazards exist. As the needarises, the troops are given instruction in the nature of these dangers an d in ways of guardingagainst them. Among the special measures for individual protection are the use of bednets, thewearing of proper clothing, the safeguardsagainst frostbite, the addition of salt to the diet,and the use of individual water purification tablets. These measures are discussed in detail in subsequent chapters of this manual. The effectivenessof these and other protective measures dep endsupon the consistency and appropriateness withwhich they are used by each individual in the unit.

Cultivation o f a Healthy MindThe health of the body is interrelated to the healthof the mind. Mental disorders may be just as disabling as are physical diseases. The soldier/airmanwho is incapacitated by combat fatigue is just asmuch a casualty as is the individual with malaria.Both mental health and physical health make upthe total health of the individual. A sense of well-being, the absence ofoverpowering fears and anxieties, and a wholesome attitude toward life areessentials of total health. By following the suggestions given below, an individual can do muc h tocultivate and improve mental health an d preventthe occurrence of a mental disorder:

a. Friendliness. The soldier/airman should seekfriendship among the members of his organization, learn to enjoy the companionship of others,and participate wholeheartedly in group ac tivities.Active participation prevents concentration onpersonal, depressing problems and feelings.6. Tolerance. The soldier/airman should applytheGolden Rule. The military is composed of individuals of various ages, races, and religious be

liefs. The right of each individual to his ow n beliefs andhabits shouldbe respected.c. C ombating of Worry. Worry has been definedas many useless thoughts whirling around a hubof indecision. Although worry cannot be shut offlike a faucet, positive action can be taken toco mbat it. Troubles should be faced boldly; theymay be put into words and shared with one's associates. Unit officers, chaplains, and medical officers

are interested in the physical and mental welfareof each person in their units and should be consulted by those persons whose worries threatentheir health.d . Combating of Fear. Fear is a normal reaction. It serves the important purpose of preparingthebody for defensive ac tion. Fear is destructiveonly when it is allowed to get out of control. Someof the sensations of overpowering fear are trembling, jumpiness, pounding heart, sick stomach,sweating, and momentary "freezing." The best antidote for fear is action. The individual sh ouldconcentrate on the job to be done and act in accordance with his orders and training. By doingso , he will find that fear loses its paralyzing powers.

41. R u l e s for Avoiding I l lness in t h e FieldUnder field conditions the dangers of disease aremultiplied. Some simple "do's" an d "don'ts" whichwill help to keep the soldier/airman healthy are asfollows:

a. Don't consume foods and beverages from unauthorized sources. They are very likely to containdisease germs or poisons. W hen away from approved water sources, treat your water supplyproperly (para 51 through 54).6 . Don't soil the ground with urine or feces. Usethe latrine. W hen no latrine is available, dig a "cathole" and cover your waste.c. Keep your fingers and contaminated objectsou t of your mouth. Wash your hands followingany contamination, before eating or preparing

food, and before using your fingers in the care ofyour mouth and teeth (para 31).d. Be sure that after each meal your mess kit,knife, fork, and spoon are well cleansed anddisinfected in boiling water or in achlorine-watersolution (para 66).e. Cleanse the mouth and teeth thoroughly atleast once each day. By carrying a toothbrushan d toothpicks with you an d using them correctlyto remove accumulated food debris, you can pre-

18 AG O 20008A


20/96

ventmost dental diseases associatedwith long periodsof field duty. Rem ember, it is not absolutelynecessary to ha ve a dentifrice to brush your teeth.Ifne ces sary, use improvised devices as discusse din paragraph 31./. A void the bites of insects by keeping yourbody clean ; wearing proper, protective clothing;and using an insect bar (b ed net), insecticides,and repellents as instructed in subsequent chap

ters.g. A void getting wet or ch illed unnecessarily.W hen yo u get wet, ch an ge to dryclothing at thefirst opportunity. Whenever possible, wear clothing suitable for the temperature, weather co nditions,andtype of activity.h. Don't share with others such personal itemsas canteens, pi pes, mouth organs, to wels, toothbrushes, handkerchiefs, and shaving items.i. Don't takea laxative for painin thestomach.Instead, se e a medica l officer.

j. Don't throw food scraps, cans, and refuseabout theca m p area. Such accumulations serve asbreedingplacefor disease-carryinginsects and rodents.k. A void contacts with sources of disease. Thisapplies particularly to natives an d animals in areas where sanitation is poor an d disease is prevalent.I . A void intercourse with prostitutes and pro-miscious women. They are usually infected withvenereal disease. There is no suc h thing as a"clean" prostitute.m. W hen ever po ss ible, get 7 or8 hours of sl eepeachnight.n. Engage regularly in so m e form of physicalexe rciseor sport, preferably ou t of doors .o . U se a portion of off-duty time for wholesomerecreation an d self-improvement: sports, hobbies,studies, and religious activities.

Sec t io n III. IMPROVISED HYGIENIC DEV ICES42. GeneralIn the field thedevices necessary formaintainingpersonal hygienemust be im provised. Som e of thedevices whic h have be en tried and used successfully in the field are described in this section. Potable waterwill be use d for washing hands.43. Han d -W ash in g Dev i cesHand-washing devices which are easy to operatemust be providedat appropriateplaces in the bivouac area: ou tside the latrine enclosures, nearthe m ess area, andat other locat ion s as needed . Asoakage pit (para 7 9) must be provided undereachdevice toprevent water from co llecting. Thewater containers for these devic es must bechecked periodically to insure that they are keptfilled . Two eff ective hand-washing devices are illustratedbelow

a. Suspended 5-Gallon Water Cans. T w o salvaged 5-gallon water cans, one filled with so ap ywater an d one filled with clear water, are suspended from an improvised frameas illustrated infigure 5 . A hole is punched in the cap of each canto allo w the water to run out whe n the ca ns aretipped.

b. Mounted No. 10 Can. A N o . 10 can in whichfour small ho le s hav e been punched is attachedtoan improvise d stand as illustrated in figure 6 . A5-gallo n can of water, a dipper mad e for a sm allcan, and a barof soap are provided . A small can

or a splitca n with theedges turned down may beused as a so ap d ish. The water is dipped fromthe5-gallon ca n an d poured into the No. 10 can. Thestreams of water from the N o. 10 can makes itpossible for a person to wash both hands at thesa m e time. Minim al amounts of water are requ ired for this washing device. When this devic eis not in us e, thecan of water sh ouldbe cov ered toprevent m osquito breeding.44. Shav in g an d Was h in g Dev i ceA device suitable for shaving and washing pur-

Figure 5. Hand-washing device suspended 5-gallonwater cans.A GO 20008A 19


21/96

DISCARDEDNO. 1 0 CAN

IMPROVISEDSOAP DISH

DI PPERFOUR SMALL HOLES

PUNCTUREDI N BO TTOM

SOAKA6E PIT

Figure 6. Hand-washing device mounted No. 10 can.

poses is a rack built in a way which will securesteel helmets in an upsidedown position an d mirrors at an appropriate height as illustrated infigure 7. The water supply can be provided in a5-gallon ca n placed at on e end of the rack. At theother end of the rack a grease trap and a soakagepit (para 79 and 81) can be built for the sanitarydisposal of the waste water.45. S h o w e r Dev icesWhenever possible, shower devices should be provided in the field. They are important in maintaining not only the personal hygiene ofthe troops butalso their morale. In some climates heat from thesun will take the chill from shower water. Furthermore, painting the containers black or someother dark, dull color increases the absorption ofheat from the sun. W he n the climate is such that adevice is ne eded to heat the water, it may be improvised as discussed in c below. The shower devices illustrated below are a few of the im proviseddevices which have proved to be effective in thefield. Each shower device should have a soakagepit built underneath it and wood duckboards positioned over the pit.

a . Mounted Inverted DrumShower. A 55-gallondrum is converte d into a suitable water containerby removing the bottom and fitting the bungholeon the top with a control valve for the water out-20

let. This drum is then placed upside down on anoverhead platform, and a perforated tin can isfastened over the water outlet (fig 8).b. Mounted Tilt Drum Shower. This device isbuilt by mounting a 55-gallon drum on an over-

NAILS TOHANG MIRRORS

SOAKAGE PIT

5-GALLONCAN

OF WAT E R

GREASETRAP

Figure 7. Shaving and washing device.

55 -GALLON DRUM WITHEND REMOVED

PIPE TO FITI-INCHBUNGHOLEI N TOP O F55-GALLONDR UM

TIN CAN WITHTOP REMOVEDAN D BOTTOMPERFORATED

Figure 8. Mounted inverted drum, shower.


22/96

headframeinawaywhich permitsittotilt whena rope attached to the top of the drum is pulled(f ig 9).A safety strapfastened to the frame controls the extent to which the drum can be tilteddownward. The bungholeportion of thetopofthedrum is removed , leavingabout two-thirds of thetop inplace. Holes arepunched in the upper partofthedrum on the side opposite theopen top;thetiltrope is attachedtothetopabovetheseholes. A roundrod is inserted crosswise through the drumandhalfwaybetween the top andbottom . The rodmustproject sufficiently on each side of thedrumto remain securely in the notches which are cutintotheoverhead frame.c . ShowerWithWater Heating Device. When awater heating dev ice is required, two 55-gallondrums are mounted on an overhead platform asdescrib ed in a above. An oil-water flashburner isimprovised as des cribed inparagraph 686, and a15-gallon drum of water is placed on the burner(fig 10). This burner drum is then connected to

one of theoverhead drums bymeans of tworubber tubings or metal pipes. One pipe is insertedintotheoverhead drumat approximately one-half

itsdepth; whereas theotherpipe is insertednearthe bottom . The other end of the pipe which hasbeen connec ted near the bottom of the overheaddrumshouldbe inserted in tothe15-gallondrumto apoint2 or3 inchesfromthebottom as showninfigure 10. As the water in the burner drum becomes hot, it rises up the higher oipe into theoverhead drum . This water is replaced in theburner drum immediately by an equal amount ofwater leaving the overhead drum through thelower pipe.

Figure 9. Mounted tilt drumshow er .

HOT WATER TANK COLO WATER

Figure10 . Shower waterheatedwithan oil -wa ter*flashburner.

AGO 20 008A


23/96

CHAPTER 4FIEL D WATER SUPPL Y

Sec t i on I. GENERA L46. Im po r t an c e of WaterSafe water in sufficient amounts is essential to anarmy. Water which is not properly treated canspread diseases su ch as typhoid and paratyphoidfevers, bacillary dysentery, ch olera, leptospirosis,and com mon diarrhea (fig 11). In certain areas,water may also transmit infectious hepatitis,schistosomiasis,and amebic dysentery. The latterdiseases arecaused by organisms which arehighlyresistant to the water disinfection methods normallyused.47. Terms Used in Relatio n to Water

a. Water which is safe forhuman co nsu mption . Potable water is free fromdisease-causing organisms and excessive amountsof mineral and organic matter, toxie chemicals ,and radioactivity.Water which is unfitfor human consumption even though it may be

palatable (cbelow). Contaminated water containsdisease-producing organisms and/or ex cessiveamounts of mineral and organic matter, toxicch emicals, or radioactivity.Waterwhich is pleasing tothe taste but which may be unsafe (contaminated).Highly mineralized waterthatcontains dissolved solids in excess of 500 ppm( A ; be low). Both alkalinityand salinityrange fromveryhighto very low. Brackish water isfound in

many regions throughout theworldbut most fre-SOURCE TRANSMISSION CA SES

H U M A N _ DRINKINGAND AN IMAL COOKING

WASTES r BATHING

I I'-"' S US C E P T IBL E

PER SONSn

quently in arid or semiarid climates as groundwater and alongsea co asts.Removal of undesirableconstituents in water through such mea ns'a s coagulat ion, sedimentation, filtration, and/or disinfection.

/. Treatment with a chemical orby boiling to destory disease-producingorganism s.Disinfection of water by theaddition of a chlorine co mpound su ch as calciumhypo chlo rite.

The amount of chlorinead ded to a givenquantity of water.The amount of the chlorine dosage which reacts with and is consumed byorganic material, bacteria, andothermaterials inthe water.The amount of the ch lorinedo sag e remaining after the dem an d has beensa tisfied. minus


24/96

tenance of all facilities for collection, treatment,and distribution of water. In the field, engineertroops will not usually deliver water to units butwill establish and operate water points wherewater is treated and stored. Sometimes engineertroops transport water to centralized distributionpoints,known as drypoints, for convenient pickupby unit personnel. The us ua l practice, however, isto provide delivery facilities at the water points.In order to provide large quantities of water fortroops in the field, engineer troops use equipmentdeveloped especially for this purpose, such as mobilewater purification units an d distillation units.They use other special eq uipment in removingchemical, biological, and radiological contaminants. Th e water treatment process usually consists of coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, anddisinfection. Medical Department personnel recommen d standardsfor water quality, conduct bacteriological and

chemical examinations of water, an d advise commanders and engineers as to the methods of purification which should be used to produce potablewater. The selection of water points an d watertreatment methods may be based upon data provided by the Medical Department as well as thereconnaissance performed by engineer troops.Medical Department personnel also inspect watersupply, systems and water points and, after appropriate laboratory an d field examination, approveor disapprove waterfor consum ption.Whether in the field or in garrison, each soldier/airman is responsible for observin g the rules of water discip line. These rules are(a) to drink potable water only, (b) to preventwaste of potable water, and (c ) to protect watersources by good sanitary practices. It is em phasized that water discipline does not imply doingwithout water. It means to use water wisely an dnot waste it.

Sec t ion II. PROCUREMENT AND PROTECTION OF TREATED W ATER FROMENGINEER WATER POINTS

49. Quantity o f Water R e q u i r e dThe quantity of water required for troopg varieswith the season of the year, the geographical area,and th e tactical situation. Dehydration m ay be aproblem in both extremely hot and cold climates.In extremely hot climates large quantities ofpotable water are required to replace body fluid losses.In ex tremelycold climates body fluid losses arenotas great as in hot climates; however considerationmust be given to requirements for potable waterin the reconstitution of dehydrated foods. Additional amounts of water are also required formaintenance of personal hygiene in both hot andcold climates. A guide for planning to meet thewater requirements in a temperate zone is 5 gallons per man per day for drinking and cooking.When showering facilities are to be made available, the amount required will be at least 15 gallonsper man per day . Further discussion of water requirements is contained in paragraph 17 5 and inTM 5-700/AFM 86-3 an d T BMED 175/AFP160-1.50. Trea ted Water f r o m E n g i n e e r WaterPo in t s

a. Unit personnel obtain water which has been treated by theengineers to make it potable from the designatedwater points, using tank trucks, water trailers, orwater cans. Th e unit must insure that this treated

water does not become recontaminated while hauling it to the unit area. The following precautionsmustbe taken(1 ) Water trailers, tank trucks, and watercans must be clean upon arrival at a water point.To the maximum extent possible, they should beused for hauling potable water only. When theyare used to hau l nonpotable water, they must be somarked. If they are to be used thereafter for hauling potable water, they must be cleaned and thendisinfected with a 10 0 ppm chlorine solution. Newtrailers, tank trucks, and water cans should alsobe di sinfected prior to initial use. The disinfectingso lution can be prepared by addingon e am pule ofcalcium hypochlorite to 1 gallon of water. Fortrailers an d tank trucks, it will be more convenient to obtain ca lcium hypochlorite in the bulkform (3i/2-pound can), and use 2 ounces or 5 levelmesskit spoonfuls per 10 0 gallons of water.(2) The interior surfaces of trailers, tanks,

an d cans must be properly maintained. Theyshould be inspected periodically for rust and chipsin interior en amel, tightness of seals and seams,an d cleanliness.6 . Inthe unit area, water purification bags are ordinarily used to storeand dispense the treated water totroops. Water is transferred from the water tankor trailer into these bags, which are 36-galloncanvas containers issued to units on the basis of 1


25/96

g per 100 men . The porous canvas of whichesebagsaremad e permits seepage ofwaterandoling by evaporation. The bags are set up asstrated in figure 12 before they arefi lled withater. The weightofthe water in these bags mayuse the supporting ropesto stretch, thus causinggapbetw een thecover and the bag. Shou ld thisur, the ropes sh ould be adjusted so that theve r will again fit snuglyaround theupper partthe bag and thus prevent contamination of theaterby dustand inse cts. The bags should be incted frequently for cleanl ine ss. If they arerty, they should be scrubbed, treated with a

strong so lut ion of ch lo rine (1 ampule of calc iu m hypochlorite to 1 gallo nwater),and rinsedseveraltimes withpotab le water.

Incases ofextreme em ergen cy, gaso line cans may be safely cleaned forholding po table waterby steaming orusing detergent and water. The new es t, cleane stcans witha brightinteriorshould be selected. Theprocedure forcleaning thecans is as follow s:(1) Drain the can thoroughly for 10 to 15minutes.(2) Fill the can half full of water and ad d 1 ou nce of powdered detergent; then close the canAG O 20008 A


26/96

and shake it for 5 minutes before discarding thiswash water.(3 ) Rinse th e can with water three or fourtimes; then fill it to overflowing an d discard thiswater.(4) Fill the can with water and ad d the contents of five calcium hypochlorite ampules; thenclose the can and shake itto m ix th e calcium hypochlorite with the water.(5 ) Let the can stand for 1 hour before

emptying it for us e in the storage of drinkingwater.Tests to determine the chlorine residual oftreated water must be m ade periodically (para53b(5)). If the residual is below the leve l prescribed by command regulations, the contents ofcalcium hyp ochlorite ampules must be added untilthe prescribed residual is reached (para 53&(2)).

Sect io n III. PR O C UR E ME NT AND TR E A TME NT O F W A TE R F R O M OTHER SOURCES

Isolated units m ay not be able to obtain waterfrom engineer water points. In this case they m ustobtain and treat their own water.52. Se lec t ion of Water S o u r c eThe possible sources of water are a public watersupply system, surface water (lakes, rivers,streams, and ponds), ground water (wells andsprings), raincollected from roofs or other catchment surfaces, ice or snow, and distilled sea water.The

Documents

1970 US Army Vietnam Field Hygiene and Sanitation 90p