PI049: How Parris Island Minimizes Heat Related Incidents

When I think of summer I think of pool parties, sitting on the back porch sipping iced tea or going to the beach.  But it can get very, very hot here in South Carolina and aboard Parris Island during the summer months, the Depot implements Hot SOP or Hot Standard Operating Procedures to combat heat-related incidents not only for the recruits but for base personnel.

Automated Heat Stress System

Automated Heat Stress Systems

One of the components of Hot SOP is an AHSS or Automated Heat Stress System.  These systems are strategically positioned around the base and give valuable information about the temperature.  Measurements are taken and flags in green, yellow, red or black are used to relay the data given by the AHSS devices.  With this information base personnel know how hard they can exercise and Drill Instructors can gauge the participation of outdoor activity for their recruits.

Unlike the heat index which measures temperature and relative humidity in the shade, the AHSS uses dry bulb (DB) to measure the air temperature and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) to measure humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover.  By measuring DB and WBGT in the sun, the AHSS provides a better way to determine how much activity can take place in an outdoor direct sunlight environment.

A Marine raises a red flag outside of Headquarters and Service Battalion, indicating the outside temperature is 88 to 89.9 degrees. (photo by Cpl. Sarah Fiocco)

What do the Flags Mean?

In an article by LCpl Heather Golden entitled Depot to Implement Hot Weather Plan Soon, she describes the flag designations as follows, “Green, red, yellow and black flags depict the weather conditions, with green representing the coolest temperature to black representing the hottest temperature.  In extreme conditions, medical personnel may call for an administrative black flag.  This condition exists when BMC and the battalion aid stations cannot handle any more heat injuries.”  During an administrative black flag, all training stops.

If you follow this link to the Headquarters Marine Corps site, scroll to the bottom and look at the right side of the page, there you will see the flags along with the temperatures and conditions that apply for each color.

How Can Heat Injury Be Prevented?

According to Marine Corps Order 6200.1E there are three major ways of preventing heat injury; hydration, acclimatizing personnel by allowing their bodies to adapt to their environment, and using wet bulb globe temperature, along with resting periods in between training.

By following the Hot SOP guidelines, recruits and permanent personnel aboard Parris Island can avoid becoming heat casualties.