Military medical equipment, techniques, often require years of preparation

Article Abstract:

Preparation of emergency military medical equipment and techniques takes time to develop. The transportable military hospital is a good example of the type of equipment that is needed. Known as DEPMEDS (Deployable Medical System), it is temperature-controlled, transportable, modular, and standardized among the military services. These air-transportable hospitals will soon be carried by the new C-17 jet transport. Military medical emergencies can involve extreme heat, as in Operation Desert Storm, extreme cold, or high altitude. The physiological and psychological aspects of these extreme environments are being studied at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Massachusetts. Other examples of research efforts are determining how much weight a solder can carry, the causes of injury during basic training, and nutrition requirements for troops on the move. Operation Desert Storm has provided the military with real-life situations for analysis. One aspect of the war was the contamination of soldiers with local diseases, such as anthrax, African swine fever, and other diseases not usually encountered. Overall, the illness rate during this war was the lowest of any wartime situation, but military and civilian physicians are being advised to consider plague, malaria, and other diseases when treating patients who have recently returned from the Persian Gulf area. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Equipment and supplies, Wars, Armies, War

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Fifth week of Desert Storm fighting brings new challenges for medicine

Article Abstract:

An important aspect of US military medical planning for carrying out Desert Storm has been self- or buddy-care by the troops, who are trained in certain basic emergency care procedures such as control of bleeding. In addition, combat lifesavers, who know additional procedures, are located in the squads, and many corpsmen are certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support. Evacuation and treatment of wounded soldiers remains a problem, since the terrain is flat and unprotected, leaving transporters susceptible to attack. Helicopters are not often used for these missions, and the wounded are carried manually or by vehicle to the place where they receive care. For this, approximately 30,000 people (physicians, nurses, dentists, and others) have been assembled. Each US Coast Guard unit has a physician's assistant, and, if its own 60 physicians need supplementation, other services will supply it. The possibility of pilot fatigue is another critical concern. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Statistics, Medicine, Military, Military medicine

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Changes brewing for food labels as national concern about diet and health continues to grow

Article Abstract:

Current food labels are outmoded and need updating. Proposed regulations for food labeling from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be drawn up in early 1990, and probably go into effect by Jun 1991. These changes have not yet been determined. Currently food labels must list all ingredients in descending order by weight. About 60 percent of all food labels include additional information, such as calories, percentages of protein, carbohydrate, fat, and sodium, as well as the percentages of daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. There are several bills being proposed in Congress that will require food labels to carry more nutritional information. Hearings on one of these bills showed strong support from representatives of consumer groups and professional societies such as the American College of Physicians. The food industry indicated its support if legislation at the federal level would prohibit the states from writing their own food-labeling legislation.

Planning, Laws, regulations and rules, Food, Labeling, United States. Food and Drug Administration, Nutrition policy, Food labeling

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