Rising temperatures are leading to a rise in heat-related illnesses according to new data from the US military. Army investigations have found that Commanders are ignoring the risks of heat exhaustion and requirements of at least 40 minutes of rest after each hour of training.
A report from Inside Climate News found one incident in June 2016 where combat veterans had to be evacuated due to nine hours of training ground drills in Arkansas where the heat index was 103.
The incident resulted in multiple soldiers falling ill even after they had requested an assessment of whether or not training should be canceled. Commanders at the base refused to allow soldiers to take off their gear, and even after multiple requests and persons falling ill, there was a failure to supply water and ice. It took three hours for Commanders to supply troops with water.
The temperature has continued to rise to lead to major concerns of heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Reports show that the temperatures in Earth have not been seen in the past 2,000 years.
Heat-related deaths are also on the rise with 40% of deaths involving seniors that are 65 or older.
There have been 17 service members in the United States to die between 2008 and 2019 due to heat-related illness or exposure. Ages range from as young as 18 to veterans in their 30s who have died due to rising temperatures.
Military data shows a 60% increase in heat stroke and heat exhaustion since 2008. The figure rose from 1,766 cases in 2008 to 2,792 cases in 2018. Marine Corp members saw the cases of heat exposure more than double during this time span.
The Pentagon has determined that rising temperatures have cost the U.S. military almost $1 billion in lost work. The Department of Defense has additionally warned that rising temperatures are a threat to national security and impact the department's ability to defend the nation.
Heat-related deaths remain the most concerning for doctors as the deaths are preventable if treatment is offered and exposure is eliminated. Commanders that have routinely forced military personnel to stay in their training routine for hours in heat indexes over 100 are primarily to blame.
Ice and water can help curb the number of deaths and illness in the military, but access to ice and water is often denied for hours as was the case in 2016. The study found that Commanders must treat heat threat as an urgent priority.
