2020/08/11
The Ministry of National Defense releases the topic of its regular press conference: "Measures of the Armed Forces in Dealing with Heat Injuries"
Ministry of National Defense Press Release Reference Material
I. Press Conference Topic:
Measures of the Armed Forces in dealing with heat injuries.
II. Press Conference Attendees:
1. Chu Bai-ling, Director of the Heatstroke Prevention Center of the Tri-Service General Hospital
2. Colonel Lin Jin-huang, Deputy Director of the Medical Readiness and Healthcare Department of the Medical Affairs Bureau
III. Ministry of National Defense Reference Material
1. The summer climate is fiercely hot and is thus a high risk period for heat-related injuries (heat stroke, heat exhaustion, rhabdomyolysis, etc.). In addition to actively implementing publicity on heat injuries for military personnel, the MND has also requested for qualified personnel certification operation on heat injuries by the entire force before the end of April every year and constantly strengthens the identification by officers and soldiers for signs of heat injury, as well as preliminary treatment and emergency cooling exercises to facilitate immediate responses. Doing so should help reduce the probability of severe heat injuries and ensure the health and safety of officers and soldiers.
2. The climate has repeatedly broken high temperature records for the summer this year. Nonetheless, with continuous training for combat readiness by the Armed Forces, relevant measures and treatments are being studied and formulated to prevent heat injuries and ensure effective responses during exercise training, which are explained as follows:
A. Preventive actions:
a. Before various physical training and testing exercises, the servicemen should receive fully balanced and regular exercise training as they gradually adjust their ability to adapt to the heat, and rash testing must be prevented. Furthermore, the instruction office must complete pre-work education, master those who are feeling unwell (including obesity, on cold medication, fasting, excessive fatigue, etc.), give proper care, and suspend such operations as necessary.
b. As regulated, first-aid teams must be provided for medical treatment, and communication mechanisms should be set up and completed for tests, with preparation of first-aid equipment furnished and functions tests done. Furthermore, medical staff should practice the operation of first-aid equipment, master the treatment capacity of heatstroke emergencies (division, equipment, and phone contact) of hospitals at neighboring exercise fields, and survey and be familiar with evacuation delivery routes in advance.
c. Regarding each of the exercise fields, instruction officers should regularly monitor the change towards the risk coefficient of heat stroke (temperature + humidity*0.1), help servicemen supplement water at the right time (small amounts, multiple times, and drinking slowly), and it is strictly forbidden to substitute ice beverages for water.
B. Contingency measures:
a. Quick detection: When one or a nearby soldier is found with signs of unconsciousness, general fatigue, weakness, muscle aches, rising body temperature, ceased sweating, and/or a decrease in urine output (color turning darker), they should report to the cadres and notify medical staff for immediate handling.
b. Rapid cooling: Move the patient to a cool and ventilated place, disarm equipment, wipe the whole body with cold water, ice cubes, or wet towels, apply ice to neck, underarms, and areas where large arteries flowing on both sides of the groin, and provide water if necessary.
c. Rapid delivery for medical treatment: While cooling down, evacuate and contact the hospital concurrently to first complete the emergency preparation; during evacuation, one should always pay attention to the vital signs of the patient and provide necessary medical treatment in a timely manner.
d. During regular days, contingent grouping of cooling down and emergency treatment should be completed. As stipulated by regulations, the responsibility of the squad leader, nearby soldiers, military medical officers, medical corporal, and escort cadres is that they work by division of labor for cooperation. Furthermore, they should continue to perform step-by-step drills to familiarize themselves with the "three fast" critical measures of first aid.
3. In recent years, the Armed Forces have made constant efforts at all levels, and the fatality rate of heat injury has become zero as first aid treatment is carried out adequately and suitably. Furthermore, the number of severe cases has been greatly reduced every year. However, the MND persists to require officers and soldiers to implement heat injury measures, strengthen risk management (personnel identification and environment monitoring) among cadres, improve emergency medical care (emergency medical care of healthcare and continuous cooling treatment at hospital), and enhance self-protection capabilities so that officers and soldiers can achieve the goal of "safety with zero injuries" in the training environment.