§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in the last five years, how many service personnel have collapsed, or been injured, and subsequently died when undergoing training; what were the circumstances in each case; on how many occasions inquiries were held; and how frequently training officers were reprimanded.
§ Mr. FreemanI shall write to the right hon. Member.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what advice has been issued to training officers regarding men taking strenuous exercise when wearing wet suits in hot weather.
§ Mr. FreemanDivers in the armed services are required to undertake strenuous exercises in dry suits in order to simulate conditions and to build stamina and character. Rigorous standards of physical fitness are maintained both prior to and during training, which is conducted with first aid-trained supervisors present throughout. Article 6155 of the naval diving manual gives advice on heat illness, its prevention and first aid treatment. In addition, every Army Physical Training Corps instructor is issued with a comprehensive aide memoire which includes a section on "Heat Illness". This illustrates the two main types of heart illness, heat stroke and heat exhaustion. It also gives guidance on how to recognise the symptoms of both types and how they should be immediately treated until the casualty can receive qualified medical assistance.