Military medicine
-
Decreases in routine healthcare practices have been shown to occur during disasters. However, research regarding the impacts of natural disasters, pandemics, or military conflicts on emergency medical services (EMS) is scarce. ⋯ This study shows decreasing trends in routine daily calls for EMS during both Operation Protective Edge and COVID-19. However, different patterns of needs for EMS were evidenced for medical illnesses, MVC, or calls concerning other injuries. These results are instrumental for managing the operational demands of EMS during military conflicts and pandemics.
-
Directed energy exposure is a phenomenon that has been reported in Cuba and China by both U. S. and Canadian government employees. Persons exposed to directed energy report symptoms that resemble mild traumatic brain injury (concussion). ⋯ A 43-year-old male with suspected directed energy exposure developed progressively worsening headaches, dizziness, auditory/vestibular symptoms, balance problems, difficulty sleeping, and cognitive/emotional complaints while assigned by the Department of State to Guangzhou, China. His physical therapy care is outlined and discussed to provide an in-depth understanding of his care and additional ideas that might benefit future diplomats and government employees who experience dizziness, visual complaints, and balance problems after suspected directed energy exposure. Coordinated multidisciplinary care with benchmarks of function before deployment is advised by the National Academies of Sciences.
-
Marines must complete an intensive Assessment and Selection (A&S) course before becoming a U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Raider. Following selection, marines are given training recommendations designed to maintain performance characteristics deemed relevant to successfully complete a rigorous 9-month Individualized Training Course (ITC). However, training strategies are individually implemented by the marine, and the time between the two courses is highly irregular, ranging between 2 months and 24 months based on operational factors related to military occupational specialty (MOS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in performance between the completion of A&S and the start of ITC and to examine if the duration between courses and previous MOS influenced changes in performance. ⋯ Current training strategies appear effective at addressing performance deficits that occur as a result of A&S, while maintaining high levels of KF, KE, TE, TF, AC, and VO2max. However, pre-ITC students still exhibited AP deficits compared to active marine raiders, so forthcoming programming may benefit from an increased emphasis on AP. Assessment of additional selectees at these timepoints, as well as students before A&S may provide valuable information to MARSOC human performance specialists to develop programing, ultimately leading to a higher ITC graduation rate, increased force readiness, and decreased financial burden forcewide.
-
The submarine environment presents unique challenges in mitigating the spread of respiratory viruses because of the re-circulatory atmosphere and lack of ability to physically distance. The atmosphere of a submarine is periodically ventilated and continuously scrubbed. However, the air is recycled for months until the ship is able to ventilate. An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurred on a U.S. Navy fast-attack nuclear submarine (SSN) with a crew of 128 personnel. ⋯ As expected, SARS-CoV-2 was able to spread rapidly among a submarine crew. In 11 days, the infection spread to 64 total crewmembers out of 128. Outbreaks such as these have played a role in future COVID-19 testing and mitigation protocols that have affected day-to-day operations.
-
The coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted global healthcare delivery. Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is the DoD's largest hospital and a critical platform for maintaining a ready medical force. We compare temporal trends in patient volumes and characteristics in the BAMC emergency department (ED) before versus during the pandemic. ⋯ The BAMC ED experienced a significant decrease in patient volume during the COVID-19 pandemic starting in March 2020. This may have significant implications for the capacity of this facility to maintain a medically ready force.