causes high perspiration rates, but the skin usually appears dry, allowing evaporation to go unnoticed...

Pokaż mi serce nie opętane zwodniczymi marzeniami, a pokażę ci człowieka szczęśliwego.

Being fully clothed helps you retain the
cooling moisture on your skin. Remember: the sun is as dangerous on
cloudy days as it is on sunny days; sunscreen is not designed to give com-
plete protection against excessive exposure; climatic stress is a function
of air temperature, humidity, air movement, and radiant heat. Sunglasses
should be worn, as well as lightweight, loose-fitting clothes. Developing a
suntan gradually (5 minutes per day) will help prevent burning.
Wind is a constant factor in desert environments. The combination of
wind and dust or sand can cause extreme irritation to the mucous mem-
branes, chapping the lips and other exposed skin surfaces. Eye irritation
is a frequent complaint of vehicle crews, even when wearing goggles.
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Fast, windblown sand can be extremely painful on bare skin, another reason one should remain fully clothed. Bandannas should be worn to
cover the mouth and nose; Operation DESERT STORM personnel
experienced the effect of being constantly sandblasted.
Potable water is the most basic need in the desert. Approximately
75 percent of the human body is fluid. A loss of 2 quarts decreased effi-
ciency by 25 percent and a loss of fluid equal to 15 percent of body
weight is usually fatal. In desert terrain, approximately 9 quarts of water
per person per day is needed. It is important to separate drinking and
non-drinking water. Drinking any water from an untested source is dan-
gerous, and will likely make you sick. In very hot conditions, it is better
to drink smaller amounts of water more often than to take large amounts
occasionally. As activity increases, you should drink more water. Alco-
hol and smoking cause dehydration and should be avoided. One cannot
be trained to adjust permanently to a reduced water intake. An accli-
mated person will need as much water because of sweating more readily
than a new arrival. If the water ration is not sufficient, physical actively
must be reduced, or strenuous activity should be restricted to cooler
parts of the day.
Dehydration is very dangerous. Thirst is not an adequate warning of
dehydration because the sensation may not be felt until there is a body
deficiency of 1 to 2 quarts. Very dark urine is often a warning of dehy-
dration. Leaders must be aware of troops’ water consumption, espe-
cially during the acclimation period. Those who do not monitor their
water intake may be subject to injuries from excessive loss of body
fluid. Injuries include heat exhaustion (causes dizziness and confusion),
salt deficiency (results in fatigue, nausea, and cramps), and heatstroke
(where the body's cooling system breaks down and can lead to death).
The desert is not a pristine environment. Diseases commonly found in a
desert environment include plague, typhus, malaria, dysentery, cholera,
and typhoid. Vaccines can help prevent typhoid and cholera. Proper san-
itation and cleanliness can prevent the spread of typhus and plague.
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Because of water shortages, sanitation and personal hygiene are often difficult in arid regions. If neglected, sanitation and hygiene problems
may cripple entire units. Dysentery can be caused by drinking impure
water. Minor cuts and scratches must be checked to prevent infections.
As previously mentioned, heat illnesses are common in desert environ-
ments; insufficient water, dietary salt, or food (people often lose the
desire for food in hot climates) increases susceptibility to heat illness.
From the psychological perspective, the monotony of the desert, its
emptiness, and the fear of isolation can eventually affect personnel. The
relatively constant climatic conditions add to this monotony, and bore-
dom lowers morale. Commanders in the Saudi desert indicated that the
first weeks of the deployment were especially tough in this regard.
Intensive training in preparation for hostilities is the best answer to
reduce boredom and desert fatigue.
Effect on Equipment
The extreme conditions in an arid environment can damage military
equipment and facilities. Temperature and dryness are major causes of
equipment failure, and wind action lifts and spreads sand and dust, clog-
ging and jamming anything that has moving parts. Vehicles, aircraft,
sensors, and weapons are all affected. Rubber components such as gas-
kets and seals become brittle, and oil leaks are more frequent. The desert
takes a particularly heavy toll on tires. Tires absorb the surface heat,
their structure is weakened, and jagged rocks can cause punctures. Tire
pressure must be checked and adjusted constantly. The large tempera-
ture variations between night and day can change the air density in the
tire; tires deflate at night and expand in the day.
Vehicle engines are subject to greater strain because of overheating.
Every 10 degree rise in temperature (above 60°F) will cause a 1 percent
loss in power, which can translate into a 6-7 percent loss in the heat of a
summer day. Lower gears must be used frequently to negotiate the loose
sandy soil, and this strains both engines and transmission systems. Vehi-
cle cooling systems and lubrication systems are interdependent, and a
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malfunction by one will rapidly place the other under severe strain.
Overheating engines lead to excessive wear, and then to leaking oil seals
in the power packs. Temperature gauges will read between 10-20
degrees hotter than normal. Oil levels must be constantly checked due to
seal problems. Radiators and flow areas around engines must be kept
clean and free of debris. Cooling system hoses must be kept tight to
avoid cooling system failure.