In the spring and summer months, many members of Tier 1 and Tier 2 deployment teams and officers in Tier 3 will be completing training in areas of public health need throughout the country. In addition, hurricane season officially starts on June 1st. Researchers at the Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science are predicting nine hurricanes for the 2011 season, five of which are predicted to be major hurricanes¹.

A large percentage of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) officers will be sent for training and/or deployments over the course of the next few months. The environment during training and deployments is often austere with high temperatures, less than ideal billeting and food, and the opportunity for little sleep and down time.

Eating well and staying hydrated are essential for maintaining physical and mental readiness during training and deployments. The following information is intended to assist officers in eating well when they are sent for training and deployments.

Be Prepared

• Officers should plan to bring enough non-perishable food and water to sustain themselves for at least 48 hours. In a disaster situation, supplies may not arrive for the first one or more days depending on road conditions and supply lines. It may also take days or even weeks to regain electricity and potable water. The following are a list of items to consider bringing with you:
  • Nut butter or nuts
  • Granola or protein bars
  • Dried fruit
  • Canned or hermetically sealed packages of meat and fish (e.g., tuna, chicken). Look for cans with a pop top that do not require a can opener.
  • Beef or turkey jerky
  • Peanut butter or cheese crackers
  • Trail mix
  • Powdered sports drink mix such as Gatorade to add to water if climate is hot and officers are perspiring.
  • Hydration system such as Camelback©. Bring with you during transport and fill with potable water before arriving at destination.
  • Pack bottled water in luggage so that it will not be taken away by security if flying to destination.
• Caterers that provide food during training and deployments are often preparing meals for other sites. Due to the volume of food they are preparing each day, they are unable to accommodate special requests.
  
  If you have a severe food allergy or special dietary restrictions, plan to bring a supply of your own food to supplement foods provided by the caterer. Also, let the “team health” group that is responsible for ensuring the health of your team members as well as the individual coordinating meals for the team know about your special dietary needs. You may be able to make a trip to a local store to purchase items once you arrive at your destination.

Catered Meals and Meals Ready to Eat

Catered meals may not be nutritionally balanced and may be high in sodium, fat, calories, and sugar. They may also be low in fiber. If you are not used to eating such meals on a regular basis, they can result in weight gain, constipation, and an overall sluggish feeling. Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) are complete meals designed and packaged for consumption by soldiers in the field. MREs provide approximately 1/3 of the daily needs of soldiers for calories and nutrients.

Each MRE contains approximately 1,250 calories. MREs tend to be low in fiber and high in sodium, which often results in constipation when consumed by individuals that are not physically active during training and deployments. The average Corps officer needs much fewer calories than a soldier and is not expending as many calories as a soldier would in the field. The following tips may assist you in minimizing nutrition-related issues during deployments:

•  Select as many fruits and vegetables at meals. Eat these foods first rather than filling up on starches such as bread, pasta, or starchy vegetables.
• If whole grains are provided (e.g, oatmeal), always select these food items over refined grains.
• If meat options are provided, select grilled, baked, or broiled meat instead of fried meat.
• If you are trying to maintain or lose weight, skip the obligatory dessert provided with each meal, avoid adding extra dressings, sauces, gravies, and fats to your foods, and watch your portion sizes. It is easy to eat more calories than you usually do when you have no control over the foods provided, but you can still control the portion you choose to eat.
• If MREs are the only food available, eat only half of the meal. You can split the meal with another officer or save some of the food for another time.

Hydration

Hydration is essential when training or deployed. Fluid needs may vary depending on air temperature, intensity and duration of activity, body size and gender, and level of fitness. The 8 cup a day rule does not apply to everyone. When officers are training or deployed, they may be so distracted by what is going on around them that they forget to drink fluids until they are dehydrated. Take the following steps to make sure you are well hydrated:

• Keep your hydration system or canteen with you at all times. Keep it filled with water. 
• If you will be doing work outside in a hot climate, consider adding a hydration powder to your hydration system or canteen that contains electrolytes to replace sweat losses.
• Do not wait until you are thirsty to take a drink. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
• Avoid sugary beverages and minimize your sodium intake, if possible. 
• Caffeinated beverages do count towards your fluid intake, but they can also cause some people to urinate more, which can lead to dehydration. A moderate amount of caffeine (200- 300 mg or the amount in 2 to 4 8 ounce cups of coffee) is not harmful for most people.
• Know the signs of dehydration.
  • Mild dehydration
    • thirst, loss of appetite, dry skin, skin flushing, dark colored urine, dry mouth, fatigue and weakness, chills, head rushes
  • Moderate dehydration (5 percent total body water loss)
    • increased heart rate, respiration, and body temperature, decreased urination, extreme fatigue, muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, tingling of the limbs
  • Severe dehydration (10 percent total body water loss)
    • a medical emergency requiring immediate attention
    • muscle spasms, vomiting, racing pulse, confusion, difficulty breathing, seizures, chest and abdominal pain, and unconsciousness

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