Hot days are on their way

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Beckham
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  When one pictures the combination of sand and sun, tropical paradise may come to mind. But here, that tag team can be one terrible tandem.

With the dog days of summer almost upon Iraq, temperatures are rising daily, and dust storms are making frequent visits here.

“The weather pattern during the summer is dominated by (a clear sky), high temperatures and winds up to 15 mph,” said Maj. Scott Hausman, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather flight commander. “The air is extremely dry here, and precipitation events are rare, so with dry ground and high winds, persistent blowing dust is common.”

Average temperatures will range from 100 to 110 degrees during the day to 70 to 85 degrees at night, but it will not be uncommon to see the top temperature rise to the mid-120s, Major Hausman said.

With these climate conditions, weather-related injuries are always a risk.

“Heat-related injuries can range from dehydration to heatstrokes,” said Tech. Sgt. Julee Stevens, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 332nd Expeditionary Aerospace Medicine Squadron’s public health flight. “Heatstroke is the worst injury, but fortunately we haven’t seen anyone in here for that yet.”

When dealing with heat-related injuries, it is important to recognize the warning signs.

“The early warning signs of dehydration are headaches, dizziness and dry mouth, which can progress to nausea, weakness, shortness of breath and muscle cramps,” Sergeant Stevens said.

There are a few ways to beat the heat.

“It’s important to stay hydrated, work in cool areas whenever possible and take frequent breaks, especially when doing heavy work,” she said.

Heat is not the only concern for Airmen here.

“On occasion, thunderstorms will produce winds as high as 50 mph, causing intense dust storms,” Major Hausman said. “These dust storms are known as ‘haboob,’ which is related to the word ‘wind’ in Arabic. The thunderstorms can be as far away as Syria or Jordan, yet produce dust storms over Balad.”

Balad, located about 45 miles north of Baghdad, is the Air Force’s headquarters in Iraq, and is a major hub for receiving and delivering supplies in theater.

When sandstorms whip through, the key is to take cover.

“When caught in a dust storm, it’s important to seek shelter if at all possible, or at least wear your goggles,” said Capt. James DeMary, public health chief.

“We also strongly discourage (wearing) contact lenses here,” Sergeant Stevens said. “The dust gets in between the lens and eye, and can cause corneal abrasion and infections.”

Airmen may be the most important asset here, but the equipment takes just as much of a beating from the weather.

“Our equipment must be protected from the heat and dust as well,” Major Hausman said. “Critical electronic and mechanical components in our aircraft and other equipment may fail to function properly if not protected.”