Temperatures are rising and Soldiers will be challenged as they execute both on and off-duty activities. Privately owned vehicle (POV) operations, recreational water activities and seasonal conditions account for the majority of summer accidents and injuries. This fiscal year, four Ill Corps Soldiers have perished in POV-4 (automobile) accidents; two others died in POV-2 (motorcycle) accidents. Recently a Fort Hood Soldier drowned in a local lake attempting to retrieve his boat. Several heat injuries have been reported.
Accident reports indicate that leaders must counsel Soldiers to prepare them to combat summer season hazards. To assist Soldiers with summer risk mitigation, leaders must educate Soldiers on the risk management process and provide mitigation tools. Leaders can find the Army Summer Safety Campaign material located at https://safety.army.mil/MEDIA/SeasonalSafetyCampaigns/SpringSummer2015.aspx. Soldiers planning trips beyond the local area will complete the Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS) (https://safety.army.mil/) assessment tool and submit it with their leave/pass request for their commander's review.
Swimming in our local lakes remains hazardous. Belton and Stillhouse Lakes are both man-made reservoirs. The characteristics and hazards that include undercurrents may be different than some Soldiers are used to from home. Encourage all Soldiers and Families to swim only in designated swimming areas with life guards present. In past summers, Soldiers swimming beyond their capabilities or in unauthorized areas and diving head first in shallow waters have resulted in the loss of lives and left several paralyzed. Remind Soldiers not to mix alcohol with water activities and do not swim alone, in unauthorized areas, or when tired. Before attempting to operate a boat, Soldiers must complete the required boater's education for the state they are operating the boat within. In Texas, as in many other states, boaters caught operating a watercraft while intoxicated are subject to jail time and loss of their POV license.
With the units participating in gunnery, red cycle taskings, field training exercises, and the National Training Center, leaders must provide heat injury prevention training focusing on the need to maintain hydration and the impacts of energy drinks, supplements, and over-the-counter and weight loss drugs. Physical fitness is critical to building and sustaining Soldier readiness and resiliency, but PRT must also be closely monitored as we put a large strain on Soldiers' bodies. To prevent heat injuries, leaders should acclimatize Soldiers to warmer temperatures and set up and monitor wet bulb globes during operations and training. Leaders should consider making adjustments to the clothing worn and moderate work/rest cycles as temperatures rise. Leaders should also be aware of all previous heat injury casualties and ensure that they are monitored throughout the training phases. In addition, leaders should consider the cumulative effect of training on Soldiers and their risk levels.
Commanders at all levels must emphasize these and all the risks as the seasonal conditions change. Leaders, especially first-line supervisors, must become aware of their Soldiers' off-duty activities. It is imperative that we dialogue about the plans of high-risk Soldiers and those planning high risk activities. Sustainment of this initiative throughout the summer months is vital to an effective summer safety campaign plan. This includes the integration of new Soldiers and Families during this period of high turbulence.
We cannot afford the loss of a Soldier, Family Member, or Civilian employee to a preventable injury. Now is the time to evaluate and ensure all facets of your summer safety initiatives are in order.
Download HQDA Memorandum: Summer Safety 2015 [PDF]
Social Sharing