Military Personnel Risks and Preventative Measures

Serving in the military while stationed in a war zone has some very obvious health risks. The most obvious risks are serious injuries and the threat of death. Injuries include but are not limited to the loss of limbs, head injuries, gunshot wounds and shrapnel. Quick medical intervention by trained corpsmen saves hundreds of lives. Soldiers learn to avoid crowded areas, to stick together and to inspect their vehicles before getting inside.

There are environmental hazards to avoid, as there is the possibility of being exposed to chemicals, frigid climates, contaminated water, insects, and infections.

Many more military days are lost to insect-vectored diseases than to combat in some areas of the world. The use of insecticides raises concern about the safety of the personnel being exposed to them, but at times vaccines and therapeutic drugs are limited. Vector management has been used to assess the quantitative risk for use of insecticide application and found to be low compared to the threat of some insects.

Mesothelioma (What is mesothelioma?)is also a big problem for military personnel. Asbestos was widely used by the military for its fireproofing and heat resistant capabilities. Veterans, particularly Navy personnel, who served between 1940 and 1970, are at the greatest risk for developing this disease. The treatment for asbestos related diseases varies depending on the individual’s condition.

Although military personnel are inoculated for almost every type of disease that they might contract, there is still a threat of infections. Infections can easily occur in a wound on the battlefield with any injury. If a soldier does not receive medical treatment in a very timely manner after an injury, the risk of infection increases.

In addition to the physical injuries, the enormous stress and anxiety have sent many soldiers home with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol or substance abuse, and depression. Anyone living through or seeing a very traumatic event can get PTSD. Some examples of these events are hurricanes, rape, physical abuse and certainly war. This stress disorder is a real disease, and it may occur immediately after an event or sometimes not until months or even years after the event. Cognitive behavior therapy can help with the symptoms, so there is hope for a full recovery.

Common symptoms of PTSD:
Flashbacks, reliving the event in your mind over and over again
Nightmares and insomnia
Feeling isolated
Angry outbursts
Continually feeling worried, sad, guilty and unhappy

Soldiers learn to trust their training and their gut instincts. This is a high stress job, which can certainly lead to injury or disease. Support from home also helps many a soldier get through those most difficult days.