Rules of personal hygiene in the field

Content

1. Features of Military Hygiene
2. Typical Diseases in Field Conditions
3. Dysentery
4. Athlete’s Foot (Mycosis)
5. Pediculosis
6. Skin Blisters (Calluses)
7. Food Poisoning
8. Field Hygiene Rules
9. How to Wash Hands Correctly?
10. How to Use Tableware?
11. Field Shower
12. Women's Military Hygiene

It is easy to get sick in field conditions. After all, access to clean water, towels, and personal hygiene products is either severely limited or completely absent. Chills, muscle weakness, diarrhea, high fever – these are the initial symptoms of infectious diseases that can be contracted in the absence of civilization.

This can cause serious diseases such as dysentery and pediculosis, significantly complicating the stay in field conditions.

To ensure that time spent outdoors remains positive, you need to prepare.

• Clothing and footwear. Choose loose-fitting clothing made of durable natural fabric. Footwear should fit your size or be one size larger, but never tight. Blisters can cause unbearable pain, greatly complicating walking. Whenever possible, shoes and clothing should be dried and shaken free of debris. Always protect your head: in winter, the largest heat loss is through the head; in summer, there is a high risk of overheating.
• Food products. Food and water must leave no doubts about quality. Food poisoning in field conditions can be fatal. Meat and fish should ideally be stored in pits covered with branches; vegetables and berries should be buried in cool sand. Water must be purified using special tablets and filtered. Store food and water supplies in places inaccessible to insects and rodents.

Features of Military Hygiene

In harsh conditions, it is extremely important to protect your body from potentially dangerous microflora. According to experiences from developed countries, losses due to non-combat causes are almost twice the number of combat fatalities. This problem is due to insufficient attention to military hygiene. The risk of injury from bullets is significantly lower than non-combat injuries, and poor hygiene is often considered the main cause of high mortality.

It may seem surprising, but the most vulnerable system is the genitourinary system, which requires daily washing with warm running water. The skin is the next most vulnerable, followed by the oral cavity. However, neglecting hand-washing rules can lead to intestinal problems. In some cases, grease, oils, and even blood (if there are no wounds on the skin) can be removed with dirt, and dust can be rinsed off with water. This method might be effective but should not be applied if there are skin injuries or before meals. In these cases, disinfecting wipes, sponges, and towels should always be at hand.

Experts recommend always carrying a pack of antiseptic wet wipes and a dry shower designed for military use lasting one day. Despite the obviousness of this measure, constant hand treatment significantly reduces the risk of infectious diseases, especially in conditions where at least one sick person might be present.

Typical Diseases in Field Conditions

Dysentery is a disease affecting the mucous membrane of the colon. It causes significant body intoxication due to bacterial infection, leading to severe weakness and intense diarrhea. It is treated in the infectious diseases ward, and the main cause is insufficient hand washing.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal foot infection commonly appearing between toes and causing significant pain while walking. Its occurrence is often linked to inadequate foot hygiene, particularly regular washing.

Pediculosis is a condition that can arise under conditions of close contact and insufficient head washing. Lice bites cause intense itching and can lead to abscess formation.

In everyday life, these problems do not cause serious inconvenience since regular washing and the use of simple antiseptics help remove pathogenic microflora, balance the lipid layer, and maintain an optimal pH level. This emphasizes that adherence to basic personal hygiene rules can prevent most diseases seriously harmful to human health.

Dysentery

This is an acute infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the colon mucosa. The bacteria in the intestines release a toxin known as Shiga toxin, causing body intoxication. It leads to severe malaise, weakness, and intense diarrhea.

The most common "field" foot injuries are blisters, frequently occurring among soldiers wearing new, unbroken-in military boots.

Athlete’s Foot (Mycosis)

A fungal foot disease frequently affecting the spaces between toes. It may occur due to non-compliance with personal foot hygiene rules, wearing tight footwear, prolonged wearing of dense shoes, exposure to moisture, or prolonged cooling of the feet.

Preventive measures include daily foot washing. If impossible, thoroughly wipe your feet with wet wipes, treat them with antiseptics, and use antifungal ointments and talcum powder. It's also useful to have spare dry socks to prevent this non-serious but unpleasant disease.

Pediculosis

Pediculosis (lice infestation) is a parasitic disease affecting the human skin and hair. It can be caused by:

• Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis).
• Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis).
• Pubic lice (Phtyrus pubis).

Depending on the lice type, pediculosis can be classified as head, body, or pubic. Lice feed on the blood of their host, causing unpleasant sensations like itching, pain, and discomfort.

Pediculosis occurs more frequently in difficult hygiene conditions, such as during military operations or disasters. Lice spread through person-to-person contact or household means.

Importantly, lice or fleas cannot be contracted from animals as these parasites belong to different species and only survive on humans.

Symptoms of pediculosis may include:

• Itching at lice bite sites.
• Small gray-blue spots on the skin.
• Scratching (excoriations).
• Presence of nits (lice eggs) in the hair.

Several weeks may pass from infection to symptom onset. Without adequate treatment, skin pustular complications can develop.

Body lice can also transmit typhus.

Treatment involves using special shampoos, sprays, lotions, and thermal clothing treatment. In some cases, shaving the hair may be recommended for complete lice elimination.

Skin Blisters (Calluses)

Calluses result from prolonged friction or pressure on the skin. They can appear as hardened areas (dry calluses due to dead epithelial cells) or as blister-like formations containing fluid (wet calluses).

To prevent callus formation, timely application of a patch to friction-prone areas is advisable.

If a wet blister occurs, you can puncture it using a sterile syringe needle after disinfecting the area, optionally with alcohol. After draining the fluid, apply an antibacterial patch with a soft pad at the center.

Always perform these procedures wearing gloves!

Food Poisoning

Common poisoning symptoms include weakness, malaise, diarrhea, and vomiting.

In normal life, spoiled or poor-quality food often causes poisoning. In field conditions, besides food issues, the risk increases due to delayed adherence to basic hygiene rules described above.

If illness occurs, promptly consult medical professionals, as misdiagnosis and self-treatment can lead to serious consequences.

To prevent poisoning, adhere to precautions such as hand washing after toilet visits or before eating, thermal processing of food, and proper food storage and cooking following sanitary-hygienic standards.

Field Hygiene Rules

Before meals, after toilet visits, handling money, or animal contact, always wash your hands with soap. If water and soap are unavailable, use wet wipes to clean your palms. Then disinfect hands with a sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Suitable options include sprays or gel-based foaming sponges with antibacterial properties that do not dry out the skin or damage its protective lipid layer.

How to Wash Hands Correctly?

The very first rule to remember is to wash your hands regularly using soap.

Handwashing in field conditions is critically important and should be done regularly using cleaning agents (soap, gel, wipes) and following these recommendations:

Open the tap or, if running water is not available, apply soap to your palms, thoroughly scrub both the inner and outer sides of your hands, rinse off the soap, and close the tap.

If water and soap are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Rub it thoroughly into your hands for 20-30 seconds until they are completely dry.

Additionally, antiseptic or alcohol-based wet wipes can be used to clean your hands.

How to Use Tableware?

The conditions in which we have to use tableware can vary greatly: it might be camping in the mountains, outdoor excursions, or military operations.

Regardless of the situation, adhering to hygiene standards is an extremely important aspect of maintaining health and preventing disease. In this article, we consider the basic hygiene rules for using tableware in field conditions.

• Washing tableware: The first and most important rule is thorough washing. Even in difficult conditions, try using detergent and hot water to remove food residues and dirt from dishes. Washing helps protect you from diseases transmitted through dirty dishes.
• Disinfection: In certain situations, such as military field conditions, disinfecting tableware can be crucial. Use disinfectants or additionally boil the dishes after washing, if possible.
• Using clean water: Remember the importance of clean water. Use it to wash and rinse dishes, as water from contaminated sources can be a source of infection.
• Checking for damage: Periodically inspect dishes for cracks or other damages, as they can lead to the accumulation of dirt and bacteria.
• Storing tableware: Store dishes clean and dry. Protect them from dirt and harmful microorganisms. Use special bags or containers for storage.
• Personal hygiene: Always wash your hands before and after handling dishes. This helps prevent infection and disease transmission.

Maintaining hygiene while using tableware in field conditions can save you from numerous problems and inconveniences. Despite challenging conditions, adhering to these simple rules helps preserve your health and makes your stay in field conditions more comfortable and safe.

Field Shower

In a steppe or forest, you can perform a quick hygiene procedure using a small amount of water and special sponge products. This is known as a dry shower.

Required materials:

• A packet with 50 grams of water.
• A sponge moistened with a safe skin-cleaning product.
• A towel made of material that leaves the skin dry and clean without stickiness.
• Body moisturizing cream (optional).

Advantages of a dry shower:

• Easy to use, no need for access to water or a bathroom.
• Ideal for hiking trips, long journeys, camping, and caring for the sick.
• Skin-safe, the sponge product has dermatological tests and does not cause allergic reactions.
• Convenient for transport; all components easily fit into a package the size of a notebook.
• Long shelf life - 3 years.

Disadvantages include the possibility of forgetting the kit at home and limited water supply. After use, all materials should be collected into a package and disposed of properly.

Women's Military Hygiene

Women often have questions about intimate hygiene, especially during war or field conditions. To maintain health and comfort, consider these tips:

• Use sanitary pads during menstruation to maintain hygiene and comfort.
• Choose cotton shorts-style underwear for comfort in any situation.
• Select sports bras that are easy to put on and take off and securely support the breasts.
• Try using standing procedures for convenience when toileting.

These tips directly affect women's health and can help prevent fungal and bacterial diseases such as thrush, candidiasis, cystitis, and kidney inflammation. Hygiene procedures should include using neutral soap with water for cleansing, or antiseptic alcohol-free wipes if water access is limited.

Hair care is also important—it's advisable to cut long hair or braid it. For hair washing, dry shampoos or regular shampoos can be used if warm water is available.

Remember, military hygiene can be simple and effective with the correct choice of products and practices. A healthy person is the primary resource for achieving victory and saving the country.