1,2 Acute dehydration often accompanies heat exhaustion but is not required for the diagnosis. Heat exhaustion is caused by the inability to maintain adequate cardiac output because of strenuous physical exertion and environmental heat stress. 1 Heat illness is the result of environmental heat stress and/or exertion and represents a set of conditions that exist along a continuum from less severe (heat exhaustion) to potentially life threatening (heat stroke). Heat illness refers to a group of disorders that occur when the elevation of core body temperature surpasses the compensatory limits of thermoregulation. Commanders, small unit leaders, training cadre, and supporting medical personnel must ensure that the military members whom they supervise and support are informed about the risks, preventive countermeasures, early signs and symptoms, and first-responder actions related to heat illnesses. During 2016–2020, a total of 341 heat illnesses were documented among service members in Iraq and Afghanistan 7.0% (n=24) were diagnosed as heat stroke. In 2020, subgroup-specific rates of both incident heat stroke and heat exhaustion were highest among males, those less than 20 years old, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Marine Corps and Army members, recruit trainees, and those in combat-specific occupations. The overall crude incidence rates of heat stroke and heat exhaustion were 0.36 cases and 1.26 cases per 1,000 person-years both were the lowest annual rates in the 2016-2020 surveillance period. In 2020, there were 475 incident cases of heat stroke and 1,667 incident cases of heat exhaustion among active component service members. Recognition of these risk factors should inform the preventive measures that military leaders, trainers, and service members routinely employ. This analysis demonstrates again the magnitude of risks of heat illnesses among active component service members and the enhanced risks associated with sex age, location of assignment, and occupational categories.
What Is the Impact on Readiness and Force Health Protection? The annual numbers of heat illnesses diagnosed in Iraq and Afghanistan have trended downward since 2016. Medical Surveillance Monthly Report What Are the New Findings?ĭuring 2016–2020, annual rates of both heat stroke and heat exhaustion among active component service members peaked in 2018 but were the lowest in 2020.
0 kommentar(er)
