Enclosure (1) to COMDTINST 6220.9A
INTRODUCTION
A. Background.
1. Activities associated with various Coast Guard operations may place personnel at increased risk
for illness or injury. Inspections, boardings and AMIO may include direct physical contact with
people from regions with endemic communicable diseases. These operations frequently have
occupational or environmental conditions and circumstances that expose personnel to potential
health hazards. Contact with persons with communicable diseases may increase the likelihood
of disease transmission.
2. Health risks associated with any of these operations can be controlled and minimized by a
combination of awareness of risk factors and implementation of public and environmental health
prevention and control measures.
B. Integrated Approach.
1. Effective control and prevention efforts require the integrated support of field operators, health
personnel, Headquarters' support staff, MLC support staffs, and individual Coast Guard
personnel. Guidelines and standardized procedures are essential but must be flexible enough to
accommodate changing conditions.
2. Maximal health and safety efforts involve a multistage approach. The most important and
fundamental actions are those taken by individuals. General awareness and education of safety,
environmental health, and communicable disease issues are critical factors in the control of
illness and injury. Other important factors include completion of recommended immunizations,
observance of safety guidelines, utilization of prescribed personal protective equipment (PPE),
(see enclosure (7)) and steadfast practice of personal hygiene.
3. Commanding Officers (COs) / Officers-in-Charge (OICs) shall use the following integrated
approach:
a) Supervisors and field commanders shall take necessary measures outlined in this Instruction
to ensure the safety and well-being of personnel engaged in inspections, boardings and AMIO.
Unit COs / OICs are responsible for ensuring the medical readiness of their personnel, to include
current immunizations for force health protection.
b) Health Services Personnel. The Health Services Technician (HS) will be the first level of
response for the health and safety needs of personnel during inspections, boardings and AMIO.
If there are no HS's onboard, the responsible Health Services Personnel should be a Coast Guard
member with training as an EMT, First Responder or Preventive Medicine Technician (PMT).
All Health Services Personnel shall contact the appropriate Designated Medical Officer Advisor
for any questions concerning the health related needs.
c) Medical Officers at Coast Guard health clinics, designated Flight Surgeons and/or pre-
deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement Medical Officers shall be consulted to solve
problems on particular medical issues relating to boardings, inspections and AMIO.
d) Detached MLC Safety & Environmental Health Officers (SEHOs), or the supporting MLC
(kse) Safety & Environmental Health Branch, should be consulted on issues related to sanitation,
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