text: Chapter 4
  types and quantities of medical supplies that will be required. If enemy forces have been issued any
  chemoprophylaxis, barrier creams, or pretreatments, it may indicate the types of CBRN weaponry available
  to them and their likelihood of using those types of weapons. The morale of the enemy and its likelihood of
  engaging in sustained combat is often dependent upon the nutritional status of the enemy and the availability
  of medical aid should they become injured. A malnourished enemy with little hope of being rescued and
  surviving the enemy’s injuries will normally not have the will to continue the fight. Medical personnel must
  also be knowledgeable about the enemy doctrine in respect to whether it is likely to abide by the provisions
  of international law and the Geneva Conventions pertaining to the protection and respect of medical
  personnel. (Refer to Chapter 3 for a discussion of the Geneva Conventions).
  TERRAIN AND WEATHER
  4-10. The military aspects of terrain and weather are listed in Table 4-1. The AHS planner must continuously
  plan for changes in weather and terrain conditions when conducting AHS support operations. The AHS’s
  effectiveness and efficiency are based on a system of progressively increasing the complexity of medical
  resources and services available from the POI or wounding through the operational area AHS to definitive,
  restorative, and rehabilitative care in the CONUS-support base. The fully integrated ground and air
  MEDEVAC system sustains the care provided at a lower role as the patient is evacuated to a role of care
  capable of providing the required support. This continuum of care is effective in reducing morbidity and
  mortality, mitigating long-term disability, and restoring a Soldier’s health and fitness. Any factor that
  disrupts this continuum can have an adverse impact on a Soldier’s prognosis and long-term disability.
  Therefore, the AHS planner must develop contingency plans for all types of weather scenarios, changes in
  topography due to weather (flooding, thawing, or freezing), trafficability/nontrafficability of evacuation
  routes, availability of resources (rotary-wing aircraft may be grounded due to visibility issues, sandstorms,
  or other weather phenomenon). The types of medical supplies required for an operation may vary depending
  upon the terrain/weather. Operations conducted in mountainous terrain may result in more crush injuries,
  while operations conducted in jungles may result in significantly higher rates of infection. The disruption or
  cessation of MEDEVAC operations would result in a requirement for holding the injured or ill in place;
  medical personnel would then be required to provide prolonged care until MEDEVAC operations could be
  resumed. This circumstance would require that the treatment elements be augmented with additional holding
  capability, more medical supplies, and possible increased surgical or other medical specialty capability. For
  an AHS planner, this type of contingency planning, coordinating, and synchronizing needs to occur prior to
  an operation, as the health of a patient is perishable and may not withstand delays in treatment and evacuation.
  TROOPS AND SUPPORT AVAILABLE
  4-11. The AHS planner must not only consider the traditional populations which require support (such as
  U.S. forces or multinational forces) but must also determine the population at risk in a more broad context.
  During each operation, the population at risk may vary due to political, social, economic, religious, and
  humanitarian considerations. The AHS planner must develop a traditional support plan, but must also
  develop a number of contingency plans in the event the population at risk and population support changes
  during the operation. If the AHS planner does not anticipate an increase in nontraditional populations
  supported, the diversion of AHS resources can adversely impact the delivery of health care to our U.S. forces.
  The support requirements (food, medicines, and medical supplies) for a civilian population who is
  malnourished, has pediatric, obstetrics and gynecological, and geriatric patients, and patients with chronic
  medical conditions varies significantly from the items available in the medical equipment sets routinely
  carried by United States Army AHS units. Prior planning, coordinating, and synchronization with CONUS-
  based organizations is required to ensure the appropriate mix of medical items can be deployed to rapidly
  augment United States Army AHS units.
  TIME AVAILABLE
  4-12. Military commanders assess the time available for planning, preparing, and executing tasks and
  operations. This includes the time required to assemble, deploy, and maneuver units in relationship to the
  enemy and conditions. Army Health System planners also view time in relationship to the continuum of care
  and timeframes required to treat and evacuate patients. For example, if an FST or FRSD is to operate on a
  seriously injured Soldier, the FST or FRSD will not be able to displace and move for at least six hours, as the