PLAN FOR THE ARTHROPOD, RODENT, AND OTHER ANIMAL THREAT
- Obtain information on biting and stinging arthropods and other animals (such as
snakes, domestic and wild animals, or birds) which could be a threat—
- Through unit medical channels from the command PVNTMED representative.
- From the health service support (HSS) annex to operation plan/order.
Use your FST—
- Train your service members in PMM.
- Control insects and other medically important arthropods in your AO.
- Control rodents and other medically important animals in your AO.
- Remind service members to avoid handling insects, arthropods, snakes, and
other animals to prevent bites or injury. Animals that appear to be healthy may
transmit rabies and other zoonotic diseases.
- Keep personnel from eating in sleeping/work areas; prevent attracting insects,
rodents, and other animals.
- Animal mascots should not be kept or maintained unless cleared by veterinary
personnel.
Ensure that—
- Each service member has a bed net in good repair and treated with permethrin
repellent.
- Immunizations are current. Prophylaxis (for example, anti-malaria tablets) is
available for issue as required.
- Laundry and bathing facilities are available.
- Field sanitation team supplies and equipment are available and can be replenished.
Request assistance from a PVNTMED unit (through medical or command channels)
when control of biting arthropods, rodents, or other animals is beyond the capabilities
of your unit.
ENFORCE INDIVIDUAL PREVENTIVE MEDICINE MEASURES
- Ensure all uniforms are impregnated with permethrin before field training or deployment.
- Ensure each service member has DOD skin (DEET) and clothing (permethrin)
insect repellent and uses them. However, cooks, other food handlers, and kitchen
police personnel must not use repellent on their hands when preparing and serving
food, or when cleaning food service utensils, dishes, and food serving areas.
- Direct service members to keep—
- Shirts buttoned.
- Sleeves rolled down.
- Pants bloused inside boots.
- Ensure service members—
- Bathe/shower regularly (field expedients will do); a field shower or bath with a
clean change of uniform should be accomplished once each week to control
body lice.
- Discontinue the use of aftershave lotions, colognes, perfumes, and scented soaps;
they attract insects.
- Use permethrin treated bed nets and the DOD-approved aerosol insect
(Insecticide, d-Phenothrin, 2%, Aerosol, NSN 6840-01-412-4634); spray inside
the net if necessary.
- Observe service members taking anti-malaria pills or other prophylaxis (when
prescribed by the medics).
- Use your FST to identify suspected lice infestations and refer for medical treatment.
MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO ARTHROPOD, RODENT, AND ANIMAL THREAT
- If the mission permits—
- Use your FST to assist you in selecting bivouac sites.
- Occupy areas distant from insect/arthropod breeding areas such as natural bodies
of water.
- Avoid areas with high grass or dense vegetation.
- Use FST recommendations and assistance in applying pesticides for area control
around living areas and in natural bodies of water.
- Drain or fill in temporary standing water sites in occupied area (empty cans,
used tires, or wheel ruts after rains).
- Clear vegetation in and around occupied area.
- Maintain area sanitation by enforcing good sanitation practices.
- Properly dispose of all waste.
- Protect all food supplies.
- Police area regularly.
- Exclude pests (rats, mice, lice, and flies).
NOTE
See Appendix A for performance of tasks relating to PMM against
arthropods and rodents.
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