Staff Writer
Mother Nature has been kind to the Leader’s Training Course Cadets this year - no heat casualties, yet.On average, July is usually the warmest month of the year at Fort Knox. Usually, in July, temperatures climb from the high 80s to the low 90s. But this year the thermometer has not yet hit 90 degrees this month.
That comes on the heels of a June where there was one week with temperatures reaching the high 80s to low 90s.
Lt. Col. Laura Favand, LTC’s chief nurse, said she thinks the July coolness has contributed to there being no heat casualties.
“This summer there has only been two Cadets that have had to be evacuated (from training) because they showed signs of dehydration or other symptoms,” she said.
Neither one of them developed a heat injury.
Last year, eight Cadets were treated for suspected heat-related injuries. None developed a heat injury.
Sometimes what seems like a heat injury isn’t heat-related, Favand said. It could be related to the blood flow in the body, she said.
Favand said she saw one Cadet at graduation this year kneel down while in formation. The cadre at first thought it was due to the heat, but then realized her knees had locked up.
Maj. Don Green, training operations officer, said last year the heat index was a problem for LTC. This year has brought good fortune.
“We always plan for worst-case scenarios,” he said. “We have put a wet bulb at every site and adhere to the heat policy set by the commander.”
Green said the only reported injury this summer was caused by a virus.
Master Sgt. John Torre, NCOIC for the Warrior Committee, said all committee members rotate positions during the day so they are not in the sun constantly. They are also required to drink lots of ice water and Gatorade.
Second Lt. Harry Sobjack, a member of the rappelling committee, said there have been more storms this year than past years. He said usually the heat index at this point in the summer is 90 to 100 degrees, but that hasn’t happened.
“I also think everyone staying hydrated has helped” to keep the casualties down, Sobjack said.