Being a Sailor in the Navy means answering the call and deploying to areas of the world most Americans will never see to face the most dangerous enemies. In the Middle East, temperatures are consistently over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and remain there for months. While operating in the Arabian Gulf, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) is ensuring there are no heat casualties and every member of the crew is taken care of in one of the world's hottest locations.

From the flight deck to the engineering spaces, Sailors are affected by the intense heat. The same boundaries that keep out water in an emergency also guard against the heat during normal operations. The air conditioning boundaries set around the ship create an airtight seal which keeps the associated spaces as cool as possible. Ike's Command Master Chief Tyrone Blockton created an instruction named "Operation Deep Freeze" specifically tailored to relieving unnecessary stress from the air conditioning plants.

"You can tell when someone leaves a door open near my space because it drains all the cool air out," said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Nathaniel Glenmailhot. "Operation Deep Freeze keeps the cool air in and the hot air out."

When the water temperature outside of the ship is a consistent average of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it makes it difficult to cool both the water and air inside. Cold water is a commodity but Ike's Ice Boss is guaranteeing Ice is available 24/7.

"When it's this hot, it puts a lot of stress on the ice machines," said Chief Hospital Corpsman John Huckleberry. "As Ice Boss, I manage the proper allocation of ice and make sure everyone receives an adequate amount. Day or night you can fill a cooler for your space or CamelBaks. We're all doing what we can to make sure Sailors are cool and don't suffer from heat stress."
Ike has provided CamelBaks to a large number of the crew and every Sailor who works on the flight deck. The chain of command has made it a mandatory piece of flight deck gear. Having water on their person keeps the crew member safe from heat stress and is just as vital in flight operations as a cranial or a floatation device.

In addition to providing wearable hydration devices, the Commanding Officer, Captain Paul C. Spedero Jr., has authorized a relaxed wear of the uniform around the deckplates.

"It helps so much to be able to just wear the blue t-shirt and flight deck pants," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Skylar Halbeisen. "After a long day on the flight deck, I can cool down much faster and be a lot more comfortable."

All these changes are a direct result of the commanding officers H.E.A.T. (Hydrate, Eliminate, Acclimate and Treat) acronym, explaining what is necessary to mitigate heat casualties. The first letter explains that hydration is key is staving off the ill effects of the temperatures. Eliminate states that every Sailor should do their part in eliminating unnecessary dangers.

Acclimate is a warning because the Sailors aboard should regulate the time they spend in hot environments and make a smooth transition in to tolerating the weather. The final word, treat, encourages every member of the Ike Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG) to watch one another for symptoms and ensure no one is taken out of the fight by the heat.

"As we've acclimated to the environment, I believe the crew has done a great job ensuring proper hydration and keeping them in the fight," said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Schultheiss, Ike's Senior Medical Officer. "We've seen very few heat related injuries because of the preventive actions put in place."

Schultheiss explained that because of the active implementation of the commanding officer's H.E.A.T. acronym, resources are made available and utilized by the crew.

"Despite the constant demands we place on the crew in record high temperatures, we're doing a fantastic job at taking care of one another," Schultheiss said. "It's everyone's responsibility to watch out for one another."

From the convenience of a CamelBak to the luxury of having refreshing ice any time of the day; the Sailors aboard Ike, from officer to enlisted, are doing what they can to keep themselves cool. No matter what rank or rate, every member of the crew is necessary and must do their part in the fight against the heat.


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