Summer is a busy training time at many installations across the U.S. military. It's also a time troops should be practicing heightened awareness of their training environment.
Safety Manager Randy Eddy with the Fort McCoy, Wis., Installation Safety Office said it's important for both service members and civilians to pay extra attention during heavy training periods.
"One of the trends I've seen is inexperience with tactical vehicles," Eddy said.
Eddy said giving service members some road time with the vehicles they need to use before they have to convoy or perform other missions is helpful. The more familiar a driver is with a vehicle, the better he or she is able to handle it.
Troops should also be mindful of the posted speed limits, he said, and pay attention to road conditions.
"Our roads at Fort McCoy, for example, especially out in the training areas, aren't that wide, and there are (almost) no shoulders," Eddy said. "If they get off the main, hardpan road and they get on the shoulders, especially after a rain when they're soft, we have had several vehicles that have rolled on their sides because of the soft shoulders."
Vetting a route before a mission is very important, he said. Troops need to make sure their vehicles meet any height or weight restrictions on the roads they're taking.
Another problem the Fort McCoy Safety Office has encountered is that units will sometimes lack a field-sanitation team for water.
"They draw these water buffaloes, but then they have nobody to certify them and nobody to test them," Eddy said. "Leaders should ensure that they're looking at those kinds of training opportunities and making sure they have that (covered.)"
And because summer can be very hot and humid, anyone who spends time outdoors needs to watch for signs of heat illness and take preventative measures. Eddy said it's especially important to keep an eye on people who may normally work inside out of the heat and humidity.
"It takes a few days to a week to acclimate to the heat and humidity," Eddy said. "For some, that means they'll be getting used to it right about the time they have to head home."
Leadership and service members should pay attention to work/rest cycles in order not to strain themselves. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids. Eddy said it's also important to make sure service members eat regularly to replenish nutrients, even if they don't feel hungry after working in the heat.
For more information on safety, visit the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center website at https://safety.army.mil/ or call your local safety office.
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