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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of (a) dehydration and (b) heat exhaustion there have been among UK armed forces in Iraq since the start of the recent conflict; and whether, in any of these cases, inadequate time for acclimatisation for fresh troops in theatre has been deemed a cause. [124360] Mr. Ingram: There have been 286 reports of heat related illnesses among British forces deployed on Operation Telic since the start of the conflict. The majority of these cases are assessed as heat stroke due to the ambient environmental conditions. Other personnel are more susceptible to heat stress as a result of the effects of another illness such as diarrhoea. Following an initial acclimatisation period of between three to five days, United Kingdom military personnel deploying to Iraq for operational duties gradually increase their work intensity in accordance with in theatre risk assessments. UK military medical advice does not specify a set acclimatisation period, however, personnel are not considered fully acclimatised until they have spent 10 days undergoing activity of a similar level, in the same environmental conditions, at which they will be expected to continue to work. In addition, all troops are made aware of the guidance on the dangers of working in hot conditions, and the measures that are to be taken to prevent heat illness.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

124360; 409 c402W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Climate Armed forces Armed conflict Deployment Casualties Health Iraq Temperature Iraq conflict Dehydration Heatstroke

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk