Iraq Extreme Temp. & Aftercare

[fizzld]

Alright...Ive been running a part time shop for about 1+ years out of Hinesville, GA. Right next to Fort Stewart Army base. My full time job is a 19D Cavalry Scout. Basically a forward observer, in the front of the the front line kind of job. Honestly im really not sure why I joined the Army. I think I was bored.

Anyway, sorry for the BIO. to my topic at hand:

I will be deploying in January...so very soon. I have the okay from my chain of command to take all my tattoo shit with me. Side note: Its acutally really nice the medics are allowing me to use their autoclave. SO...aftercare....

Im not sure if you guys quite know what all we wear out side of the forward operating base in our Iraqi zone. Lets just say we hump it with about 100+lbs. of gear and shit wherever we go. So here is the the thing. Fabric rubs and pressure is applied to numerous spots of the body for loads that are carried for 10+ hours depending on when you can downgrade your gear. Mainly the upper shoulder and back. Thighs, calves, ankles, and hands also.

On top of that the entire torso is encased in the following layers. First; A light weight T-shirt, then a medum weight jacket (ACU, DCU, OR BDU Top), Then a vest that is a layer of outer material, its pretty thick fabric. Inside of the vest is a 1/8in layer of compressed flexable kevlar light personal weapon deterent. 9mm-.45cal resistant., This layer also covers from the sholders down to mid-arm about 4in above the elbow. Then on 4 different spots of the vest there are (Sapi) plates of about an inch thick kevlar and heavy plated material centered on the chest, back and smaller inserts for the sides of your ribs. the entire vest weighs in at about 40+lbs.

Why I described all of the is because imagine all of that weight and the layers that need to be worn then add about 130-140F heat to the mix.

Aftercare!....my tattoo friends what do I do?!?

I pretty much need to redo my whole aftercare advice sheet. This I what I had in mind.

I will furnish them with a first dressing consisting of telfa pads and thin layer of bacitracin. Telfa pads are the SHIT! Those of you who dont know...they are non-stick sterile dressings about 3x4in with non-adhesive edges. They are layered with a first barrier of perforated film followed by a absorbent pad then another perforated film. This allows the wound to breath letting the pad absorb any fluids.

So I will advise them to leave the dressing on for 6-10 hours. Then advise them to wash it, dry it and then dress it again with a layer of basitracin and more telfa pads for a barrier against the constant friction during combat missions. I figure a breathable dressing would be perfect to fight off the friction and soak up fluids like sweat and any other lymph from the new tattoo. I figure after the first initial lymph and ink seepage, I will just have my clients keep changing the dressings when the pad fluid capacity is reached. or 12-18 hours, or mission dependant, but not to exceed 24hrs!

Perform this regiment for the first 3 days. After that the wound should be sealed and a new layer of epidermis will be forming. I would advise to discontinue the telfa dressings and start a frequent lotion and cleaning regiment, at least to wash the sweat off once a day.

I would advise one contigency, if scabbing occurs then continue the telfa dressings but instead of bacitracin use light frequent layers of lotion until the scab falls off.

Any thoughts, comments, concerns would be much appreciated on what to do.

Thank you,
Derek

Sorry the post is so long.

[undercover art]

I was always told to never re-bandage after removing the initial dressing.....

[DGapp]

First of all, I want to give a sincere thanks for your service to our country. If not for you or others doing what you do, we would be fighting here in our backyards instead of over there. As a parent, I am thankful! :)

It sounds like pretty sound advice for aftercare considering the location and circumstances. It all really depends on the person executing your aftercare instructions. Out there, it may get a back seat to other things, ya know?!

Thanks again bro!

[undercover art]

Tattoos and war have a long historical relationship. Many great tattoos came back from WW2, my dad's uncle Herbert was covered in nautical tat's. If care is taken with the cleaning of the tattoo, and aftercare is paid attention to, they'll be fine.

[TonyTouchTat2]

Being a Gulf War vet myself. I personally know that those tattoos in the field mean a whole lot so whatever advice you give them they will follow. You know how we are.

[maxauto]

id say your method is best due to the circumstances fizzld..

[Martin]

first off, i just want to say to be safe out there. i just got back from afghanistan myself.

now my advice to you is to think about what you are doing. do you really think it is a good idea. have you ever been to iraq?

the environment if extremely filthy and dusty. you wont go one day without getting sand throughout your uniform. and the water isnt even good for brushing your teeth. how would you feel if one of your guys had to hump a 100lb pack while dealling with a scabbing, pussy, infection. i know you would give them the best advice possible, but that doesnt mean they will listen.

and yes you may have gotten permission to bring your tattoo shit, but do you really think that you wont get in deep shit if too many guys get infections after getting inked by you. and yes, infections will happen. are you going to babysit each client until they are healed?

my advice......lock your shit up, and start it back up when you get home dude. its just not worth it.

hopefully you will make the right decision. i was anxcious myself to do some work in afghanistan but after living in the filth for a few days i realized how bad the idea really was.

think about it.

ryan

[STARMedic]

First off............Scouts OUT!!!!! As a former 19D myself who's taken a shit in every Arab/Muslim shithole, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Etheopia, and Bosnia.....Thank you for being a Scout.....

I would follow the advice of the above posters, and lock the gear up until your deployment is over. You have much more pressing things ahead of you and need to keep your head in the game as it pertains to combat and the patrols you and your brothers will be pulling. The amount and type of gear that you will be wearing day in and out coupled with the fact that 2 weeks after bein in country will be sweaty and shitty and laden with bacteria, isnt conducive to proper tattoo healing.

On a personal note tell everyone that we are behind you 100%, and when in doubt put two in the chest and one in the head of any and everyone of those mule fucking muslim cocksuckers, and be one hundred percent sure that every one of the Iraqi Police and Defense Forces will sell you out in a heart beat to their Al Qaeda brothers......

Keep your head down, and finger indexed.....

Bruce

[Bubba]

As a former scout and gulf war veteran, use your best judgement and do it safe. A injured soldier because of a infected tattoo is not in a good place to begin with, Iraq I mean. Insure that the tattoo will heal and not cause down time for that soldier. Which would put a strain on his squad which could compromise other lives.

[fizzld]

I appreciate all of your replies. Especially from you vet and active duty soldiers.

What ever I decide I will make sure that it holds to the standards of a professional shop. I have never been one to cut corners or go for the cheaper option.

Thank you for the replies again.

[TonyTouchTat2]

I am pretty sure that you will do the right thing. And pretty sure it will be done during down time (especially those 24hr guard duty at home base) HOOAH. Good luck and come back home.

[MVgp105]

As a 21 year Retired Army Medic/Gulf War Vet, we did tats there. we just did'nt place it in areas of high friction, like the shoulder. b/c of rucking, lbe, frag vest. yes, greater attention to keeping them clean was necessary. but none of us ever had an infection. Troop, remember, on your deployment, if something makes you look up, quickly look down in your AO and just the opposite.

[fizzld]

As a 21 year Retired Army Medic/Gulf War Vet, we did tats there. we just did'nt place it in areas of high friction, like the shoulder. b/c of rucking, lbe, frag vest. yes, greater attention to keeping them clean was necessary. but none of us ever had an infection. Troop, remember, on your deployment, if something makes you look up, quickly look down in your AO and just the opposite.

Thank you.....this was what I was going for...I really didnt mention that in my first post but thank you for pointing this out.

Im not sure how long it has been since any one on this board has been to Iraq. OIF 5....things have changed its mostly peace keeping with the occasional IED, VBIED, and sniper fire. Other than that. The ourskirts of Ramadi, Iraq. Sounds like a boring AO. With a lot of time to kill between missions.

Again, thank you all for you advice. ALL of it has been helpful.

Thank you for your support for the armed forces, even though a shitty cause, homeland support is what gets us home.

I hope be able to pop in on occasion while in theater. ETA 03/07-??/08

Thank you again...OUT

[fcp1011]

huuaah....i was in desert storm....my advice do the ink when they get back....the dry heat over there makes it hard to keep the body hydrated enough to encourage healing.....also i dont know what your mos is but i was a grunt and had to rely on baby wipes for cleanining 3 out of 4 days...not the proper atmosphere for tattooing. but on the other hand would be a great oppurtunity to draw out some great custom work for your friends that would really mean something to them forever.

[bruticus666]

Big hug and handshake to all of you for serving this country!!! Glad your safe!

[Inkblot76]

First let me say that I'm in Iraq right now. I'm pretty close to that fucker Sadir and his city of waste and assholes. We have two guys here that have been tattooing as well as myself since December and everyone has had really great results with the work. We are currently pretty close to being as fortunate as you can get for over here. We have showers and shitters and even a laundry facility where they do your laundry for you right outside my door. Sure the water isn't drinkable but there are bottles of the stuff you can everywhere. Typically we tell the clients to keep their tattoos covered as said above and then once they are done with the initial bandage we have them wash them off with antibacterial soap and bottled water until the artwork is starting to heal and we let them know to keep them moist as much as possible using the A&D and lotion once it has started to heal over. With the new vests built the way they are they don't sit on your chest when you are in a truck sitting down. I have done arm and shoulder pieces with one chest piece throw in for my medic. I have an abundance of rubber gloves and bandages to use so he gets free work. We all use disposable tubes and needles and keep all of our stuff inside our cases till it's time to work. Thanks for all the support. We are a company of Infantry cats killing bad guys when we get the chance. Rock on.