Heat-Related Problems in the Desert: The Environment Can Be An Enemy

Kerstein, Morris D.; Hubbard, Richard W.; Mager, Milton; Connelly, John P.

doi:10.1093/milmed/149.12.650

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…The third important event was the adoption of the ‘Water as a Tactical Weapon’ doctrine by the United States Military after 1982 [14]. According to this logic, US Military forces would gain a tactical advantage if they followed a strategy that combined very high rates of fluid ingestion (up to 1.8 l/h) with periods of alternating activity and rest in battles fought in hot environments.…”

Section: The Us Military Adopts the ‘Water As A Tactical Weapon’ Doctmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This doctrine developed by staff of the United States Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) was soon adopted by the US Military [15]. A study supposedly proving the efficacy of this intervention was subsequently published [14]. But that study is flawed since subjects were not properly randomized to different groups at the start of the trial.…”

Section: The Us Military Adopts the ‘Water As A Tactical Weapon’ Doctmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This revealed that all the senior authors of the 4 ACSM position stands published in 1996 and 2007 were either trained at or are currently employed by the USARIEM or the US Army. The originator of the ‘Water as a Tactical Weapon’ doctrine, USARIEM employee Dr. Roger Hubbard, PhD [14], also contributed to the 1996 position stands.…”

Section: The Us Military Adopts the ‘Water As A Tactical Weapon’ Doctmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Drinking to Thirst Optimum?

Noakes¹

2010

Ann Nutr Metab

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Backgrounds/Aims: Prior to 1969, athletes were advised to avoid drinking during exercise. At least 4 subsequent events led to the adoption of a radically different approach. By 1996, all exercisers were advised to drink ‘as much as tolerable’ in order to insure that they did not lose any weight during exercise – the ‘zero percent dehydration’ doctrine. This advice requires that athletes drink enough to ‘stay ahead of thirst’. The act of drinking is a basic survival instinct that has been regulated by complex, unconscious controls ever since the first fish-like creatures moved onto land and should not require conscious adjustment. Methods: Literature survey of all studies comparing the effects of drinking to thirst (ad libitum) and drinking to prevent any weight loss during exercise – the ‘zero percent dehydration’ doctrine. Result: No study found that drinking more than ad libitum during exercise produced any biological advantage, but it could cause exercise-associated hyponatremia. Conclusion: Drinking ad libitum appears to optimize performance and safety during exercise in many situations. The presence of thirst, not of water loss, may be the biological signal that impairs exercise performance in those who drink less than their thirst dictates during exercise.

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Section: The Us Military Adopts the ‘Water As A Tactical Weapon’ Doctmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Us Military Adopts the ‘Water As A Tactical Weapon’ Doctmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Us Military Adopts the ‘Water As A Tactical Weapon’ Doctmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Drinking to Thirst Optimum?

Noakes¹

2010

Ann Nutr Metab

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“…Sawka and Montain – are employed by the United States Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (USARIEM). As described elsewhere,8 it was a publication by USARIEM scientists in 19849 that first advocated very high (1.8 l/h) rates of fluid ingestion, first in the US military10 and later, following the publication of the 198711 and 199612 13 ACSM Position Stands, a somewhat lesser rate (1.2 l/h) for the exercising public. While the 1987 ACSM Position Stand11 is anonymous, all four senior authors of the 199612 13 and 2007 ACSM position stands3 14 were employed either by the US military or by USARIEM, or had trained there.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Perhaps emboldened by this support and the 1984 USARIEM study9 and the 1987 ACSM Position Stand,11 both of which promoted very much higher rates of fluid intake during exercise than ever before,23 the next (1996) ACSM Position Stand advanced what I have called the ‘zero % dehydration rule.’ In future, all athletes would be encouraged to drink ‘as much as tolerable’ during exercise. The commercial value of this ‘zero % dehydration rule’ is obvious, for it requires that all must begin to drink as much as they can, the instant they start any form of exercise.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Changes in body mass alone explain almost all of the variance in the serum sodium concentrations during prolonged exercise. Has commercial influence impeded scientific endeavour?

Noakes

2010

Br J Sports Med

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In 1991, we provided definitive evidence that exercise-associated hyponatraemia (EAH) is caused by abnormal fluid retention in those who overdrink during prolonged exercise, but this finding was ignored. Instead, in 1996, influential guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) promoted the concept that athletes should drink 'as much as tolerable' during exercise. What followed was an epidemic of cases of EAH and its associated encephalopathy (EAHE). A recent study funded by the sports drink industry confirms our 1991 finding by showing that 95% of the variance in the serum sodium concentration during exercise can be explained by changes in body mass alone. The possibility is that commercial influence delayed the acceptance of our findings for two decades.

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‘Health, Environment and Training’: Guidance on conduct of physical exertion in hot and humid climates

Cariappa

Dutt²,

Reddy³

et al. 2018

Medical Journal Armed Forces India

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Background: Military operations and training in hot environments present a special set of challenges to medical personnel who must support them. Methods: Various meteorological parameters such as relative humidity (RH), ambient air temperature (Ta) and radiant temperature (Tg), were evaluated at training sites in a desert region. Development of a colour coded Heat Stress Prevention Decision Aid Tool was done using an existing guideline chart.Results: Temperatures were being recorded routinely by ordinary meteorological instruments mounted within a Stevenson Screen. Onsite measurements with a USB datalogger was found to be relevant in making a decision on suitability of weather for conduct of training. Heat casualties occur when the stresses imposed by some combination of environment, work, and clothing combine to exceed individual tolerance limits. Personnel may encounter high environmental heat loads while working outdoors; during road marches; and while carrying loads or undertaking mechanical maintenance activities. Preventive strategies cannot be expected to eliminate heat stress but should minimize its impact on training while preserving the health of personnel to the extent possible. Conclusion:It is recommended that onsite measurement of meteorological parameters should be done, and a decision tool should be utilized for arriving at a spot decision by junior leaders.

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Heat-Related Problems in the Desert: The Environment Can Be An Enemy

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Is Drinking to Thirst Optimum?

Is Drinking to Thirst Optimum?

Changes in body mass alone explain almost all of the variance in the serum sodium concentrations during prolonged exercise. Has commercial influence impeded scientific endeavour?

‘Health, Environment and Training’: Guidance on conduct of physical exertion in hot and humid climates

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