Chapter 12: HEALTH AND SAFETY

    1. General. The first responsibility of all encampment staff members (cadet and senior) is the health and safety of all CAP members at the activity. The structured stressful environment of encampment reduces a cadet’s ability to care for their personal hygiene and bodily functions. Staff members must therefore fill this gap.
      1. Cadets will be observed and attended to at all times during inspections. They should be reminded not to lock their knees, and should be allowed to sit down if they feel sick.
      2. Cadets should have time to care for their personal needs. Flight training staff members will provide time to use the latrine. Do not force a cadet to ask to use the latrine.
      3. Living together in close proximity requires good personal hygiene. Flight staff will encourage good hygiene in a positive, tactful, and diplomatic manner.
      4. Bunks should be arranged head-to-toe, from top bunk to bottom bunk, and bunks next to one another should be arranged head to toe.
      5. Cadets will shower daily. The objective is hygiene not training. Showers are not to be timed or used as training tools. The flight staff will allocate enough time for the entire flight to shower. This time will be structured so that the cadets get clean and no horseplay takes place.
      6. The tactical staff will inspect the feet of each cadet after the evening shower. Flight staff should assist. First aid and preventive action will be made at this time. Serious injuries will be reported to the encampment medical officer as soon as possible.
      7. Each flight will walk through the fire evacuation route posted in each building before the first evening.
      8. While drilling, the flight should be given 5 minutes per every 30 minutes of drill time for rest. Drilling consumes bodily fluids that must be replaced. The flight staff will watch for swaying cadets while at attention. Each staff member will review the encampment OI for other safety rules. Health and safety does not stop with the items listed above. All staff will be constantly alert for any safety or health problems at all times. Remember, a sick or uncomfortable cadet is not going to learn very much.
      9. Things to Remember:
        1. Allocate adequate time each hour for latrine and water breaks.
        2. Allow adequate time each morning for latrine prior to PT formation.
        3. All cadets shall be required to drink at least one glass of water with each meal in addition to other fluids.
        4. Cadets will shower daily, and be tactfully reminded to use deodorant after showers.

    2. Meals.
      1. Cadets will be briefed on the encampment OI as it relates to meals prior to attending their first meal. Cadets may be excused from a meal only by a tactical officer, medical officer, the commandant, or encampment commander.
      2. Seating and line flow coordination will be the responsibilities of the wing and squadron first sergeants.
      3. Members of the flight staff will complete their meal before his flight so they can greet the cadets when they depart the dining hall.
      4. Each cadet is to eat a balanced meal to include meat (or other high protein food), grains, vegetables, and dairy products. One glass of water will be consumed as well. This paragraph will not be interpreted to limit the quantity of food or fluid consumed.
      5. No food will be removed from the dining hall.
      6. During meals, cadets will not be disturbed, except for necessary corrections.

    3. Laundry. The flight staff is responsible for insuring that laundry is done in a timely manner. The Wing and Squadron First Sergeants will arrange the laundry schedule prior to the basic cadets’ arrival. Remember that personal time may not be allocated for this purpose. Some cadets may have only one uniform and limited underwear. It is the flight staff’s responsibility the basic cadets have and wear clean clothes. Here is a list of laundry hints:
      1. Wash white clothes every day.
      2. Mark all items prior to washing. This includes underwear, fatigue pants (BDU), etc.
      3. Wash dark and light clothes separately.
      4. Wash fatigues (BDU) in shifts. They take a long time to dry.
      5. Do not launder blue wool pants or skirts, send these items to the dry cleaners.
      6. Do not iron blue wool clothes without an ironing cloth.
      7. Coordinate with First Sergeants to determine scheduling
      8. Wash while on tours and dry while in the building.

    4. Personal Time. Personal time is the cadet’s time. Each night, 30 minutes is set aside for cadets to do as they wish-given the restrictions of encampment. They may write letters, talk to other flight members, take another shower, iron uniforms, polishing shoes or just go to bed early. The cadets will receive the entire half hour. No speeches, inspections, or any other training is allowed; the training day is over. NO EXCEPTIONS! There will be no horseplay allowed however, since control must be maintained. At the same time, the cadets must be allowed to relax
    5. Building Evacuation Procedure. Building evacuation routes shall be posted on bulletin boards in building. For building evacuation during duty hours, cadets will proceed quickly in appropriate uniform to nearest exit and then to the pre-designated assembly point. For building evacuation during sleeping hours, cadets will put on athletic shoes and tie them, cover themselves with their blanket, proceed quickly without running to nearest exit and then to assembly point. Note: For some emergencies it may be necessary to keep the normal assembly area clear. Be aware of surrounding area and possible alternate assembly areas.
    6. Other Emergency Procedures. Note any warning signal instructions posted on bulletin board. Find out where the nearest shelter is for your area. If in doubt, have all personnel proceed downstairs and remain in hallway with doors closed, away from windows, and await further instructions.
    7. Road Guard Procedures. It is important to remember that the purpose for road guards is to assure safe crossing of streets. A Senior Member will accompany any marching unit and will monitor stopping of traffic at intersections. Be certain that road guard procedures are being followed and that the road guards are safe. See the Cadet OI for reference.
    8. Medical Problems.
      1. The flight training staff's first responsibility is preventive medicine. Remain sensitive to environmental conditions and situations that are likely to cause injury or illness. It is essential that sincere medical problems be handled immediately and judiciously.
      2. Tactical Officers are responsible for double checking the CAPF-32 for any medical problems a cadet might have on arrival at the encampment. In the opening assessment interview ask each cadet for required medication, and check with the encampment medical officer if any question arises. (i.e., should medication be left with the cadet or should be held by the Tactical Officer or Medical Officer.)
      3. Keep in mind basic emergency procedures:
        1. Identify the problem.
        2. Immobilize injured individual.
        3. Call for medical help by radio, phone, or runner.
        4. Provide immediate FIRST AID.
        5. Provide care only up to your level of training.

    9. Common Medical Problems. These common problems and treatments are quoted from standard Red Cross first aid manuals.
      1. Heat Exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a response to heat characterized by fatigue, weakness, and collapse due to intake of water inadequate to compensate for loss of fluids through sweating.
        1. Symptoms:

        1. Treatment:

        1. Prevention:

      1. Heat Stroke. Heat stroke is an immediate, life-threatening emergency for which medical care is urgently needed. Heat stroke is a response to heat characterized by extremely high body temperature and disturbance of the sweating mechanism.
        1. Symptoms:

        1. Treatment:

        1. Prevention:

      1. Hyperventilation. Hyperventilation is a condition brought about by over-breathing. Usually there is some degree of anxiety, tension, and emotional distress. Over-breathing begins without the person being aware of it, until enough carbon dioxide is washed out to cause symptoms so alarming that the person begins to breathe even more vigorously.
        1. Symptoms:

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        1. Prevention:

      1. Laryngitis (Loss of Voice). Inflammation of the larynx or voice box is known as laryngitis. Simple acute laryngitis is usually caused either by infection or by overuse or strain of the voice.
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        1. Prevention:

      1. Sprain. A sprain is an injury to the soft tissue surrounding joints, usually because of forcing a limb beyond the normal range of a joint. The ligaments, muscles, tendons, and blood vessels are stretched or torn. The ankles, fingers, wrists, and knees are most often sprained.
        1. Symptoms:

        1. Treatment:

        1. Prevention:

      1. Strain. Strains are injuries to muscles from overexertion. The fibers are stretched and sometimes partially torn. Back strains are commonly caused by improper lifting.
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      1. Blisters. Blisters caused by friction from shoes or boots appear on the heels, toes, and tops of feet. If all pressure can be relieved until the fluid is absorbed, blisters are best left unbroken.
        1. Symptoms:

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        1. Prevention:

      1. Sunburn.
        1. Symptoms:

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        1. Prevention:

 

 

 

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