Email   Print   Share By Joy Pariante, Sentinel Staff

Facebook Digg Delicious July 15, 2010 | Living

Courtesy illustration

Watercraft safety Courtesy illustration

Swimming safety Courtesy illustration

Grilling/barbecue safety Courtesy illustration

Fireworks safety Courtesy illustration

Driving safety Courtesy illustration

Animal and insect safety Courtesy illustration

Lawn care safety Courtesy illustration

Courtesy illustration

With the warm weather deep set in the Central Texas region, Soldiers and families are flocking to the great outdoors to enjoy the summer months. Since the children are out of school for another month, it’s also a great time to take the spouse, kids and pets out camping, fishing or maybe boating for some family bonding.

The summer months come not only with sunshine and high temperatures, they also come with some added dangers. More people are out enjoying outdoor activities, sports and taking vacations, which all have inherent risks Soldiers and families need to stay mindful of. When the mercury rises, there are also additional safety risks when Soldiers are out in the field doing what they do best … training for war.

Fort Hood leadership, along with medical and safety personnel, are well into their summer safety campaign. Their mission is to ensure Soldiers understand the dangers associated with high temperatures and the outdoors and that Soldiers pass this important information along to their families to keep the entire Fort Hood community safe.

Heat injuries are one of the biggest concerns for the summer. In 2009, two Soldiers at Fort Hood fell victim to heat stroke and 17 others to heat exhaustion. Army-wide, 209 Soldiers were heat stroke victims and 1,160 Soldiers suffered heat injuries which required medical treatment.

From sunburn to heat stroke, the sun can do some serious damage if precautions aren’t taken. According to the Environmental Heath component from Preventative Health at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, while sunburn has the potential for long-term damage, sometimes the short-term effects can be dangerous.

Sweating through pores on the skin is how the human body cools itself. When the skin is damaged by sunburn, the person loses their ability to sweat, which can lead to more serious injuries such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke – which can be fatal.

Unit commanders are responsible for implementing a heat injury safety program within their unit. These programs are developed with help from the Environmental Health office.

“We can assist with heat injury prevention training at the unit level and we have the tools readily available,” said Maj. Rebecca Zinnante, chief of Environmental Health.

The commander’s program includes training for Soldiers and hot weather management techniques for leadership. Managing the heat involves many aspects including monitoring temperatures, ensuring Soldiers are getting fluids and rest and watching out for the signs and symptoms of heat injuries.

“Heat injuries are preventable, all it requires is to take precautions,” Zinnante said.

According to a memorandum on summer safety from Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, the Surgeon General and commanding general of U.S. Army Medical Command, “Many heat injuries are preventable and none need be fatal. Thorough mission assessment and planning and implementation of mitigation measures are essential to prevent heat injuries. Early recognition and treatment of Soldiers presenting with symptoms of heat injuries are key to saving lives.”

These precautions include fluid intake, avoidance of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages, monitoring possible heat-related side effects of medications, using sun block and wearing loose-fitting clothing and hats to block out the sun. Soldiers should also be given at least two weeks upon arriving at Fort Hood to adjust to the climate before intense field or physical fitness training, Zinnante said.

The signs of heat exhaustion include cool, clammy, pale skin; sweating; dry mouth; weakness; fatigue; dizziness; headache; nausea; vomiting; weak pulse and muscle cramps. Heat stroke, which is a medical emergency, has symptoms including: very high temperature; hot, dry, red skin; no sweating; deep breathing; dilated pupils; confusion; delirium and convulsions. “Take precautions, know the signs and symptoms, and seek medical attention as needed,” Zinnante said.

Another precaution is the use of the wet bulb globe thermometer. This is a required piece of equipment for a unit’s field sanitation team kit and their use is required at all unit locations. The WBGT is used to determine the heat category during training events, Zinnante said. Leaders use the information to make prudent decisions in order to reduce the risk of heat injuries, she explained. The wet globe instrument kit has the NSN 6665-01-566-1454 and can be ordered from www.wetglobe.com by units who aren’t yet in compliance.

There are a number of other summertime safety issues of which Soldiers and family members should be aware including watercraft, swimming, grilling, fireworks, driving, yard work and animal or insect safety.



Watercraft safety

When operating a watercraft, including boats and Jet Skis, people should be sure to:

▪ Wear a life jacket or personal flotation device.

▪ Don’t drink and boat.

▪ Take a boating safety course.

▪ Be mindful of others on the water.

▪ Perform a full check of your craft before operation and ensure you know exactly how your craft operates.



Swimming safety

Before setting foot in the water or letting your children play in the water, make sure:

▪ You and your children know how to swim well enough to survive in an emergency.

▪ To never substitute a flotation device for swimming capability.

▪ To know your personal limitations in the water and not overstep those boundaries.

▪ To dive only in areas marked as suitable for diving and check the water for any hazards before diving.

▪ To never leave children alone in the water, no matter how short a period of time.



Grilling/barbecue safety

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that food-borne diseases cause 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year. Also, according to the National Fire Protection Agency, from 2003-2006, there were an average of 7,900 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including an average of 2,900 structure fires and 5,000 outside fires. Each year 7,900 fires caused an average of 10 deaths, 120 reported injuries and $80 million in property damage.

When grilling:

▪ Be sure to keep food covered and be mindful of storage temperatures required for thawed and cooked foods.

▪ Keep your grill away from siding and eaves as wind can blow flames long distances.

▪ Always supervise the grill when in use.

▪ Keep children and pets away from grills.

▪ Use only charcoal starter fluids for charcoal grills and never add fluid after coals are lit.



Fireworks safety

Although July 4 has passed, many people will continue to use fireworks as a means of celebration. Each year more than 10,000 people are treated in hospitals for injuries from mishandling fireworks. Approximately 3,000 of these injuries are children and several fatalities each year are attributed to improper use of fireworks.

When handling these explosives, be sure to:

▪ Never let children handle fireworks.

▪ Don’t mix fireworks and alcohol.

▪ Always use fireworks outdoors and away from dry foliage.

▪ Never try to re-ignite a malfunctioning firework.

▪ Always keep a bucket of water, hose or fire extinguisher nearby, just in case.



Driving safety

With various summer holidays and vacations happening between June and August, many Soldiers and family members will be on road trips more than usual. Privately owned vehicle accidents are still the top accidental killer of Soldiers. The Army Traffic Safety Training Program suggests the following to keep yourself and your family safe on the road:

▪ Obey speed limits and take road conditions into account when choosing your speed.

▪ Be well rested prior to getting on the road. Don’t drive for more than four hours without taking a break and avoid driving past your normal bed time.

▪ Don’t drink and drive. Approximately half of all fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States have alcohol involved.

▪ Wear your seat belt. According to the National Safety Council, the lap and shoulder belt combination practically guarantees survival at impact speeds of 50 to 60 m.p.h and will reduce chances of injury up to 90 percent.

▪ If you’re on a motorcycle, wear all mandatory protective gear. Helmets are particularly important, according to the NSC, as out of the more than 80 percent of motorcycle accidents that result in person injuries, head injuries are the most frequent cause of death.



Animal and insect safety

Texas is home to many not-so-friendly critters, including a number of poisonous snakes and insects. If you know or think you’ve been bitten or stung by one of the following, be sure to seek medical attention promptly. Be wary of the following:

▪ Western Diamondback Rattlesnake – has a series of diamond-shaped blotches on its back with a light border around each diamond and has rattles on the tip of the tail. They are most commonly found in dry, rocky terrain and hide in between rocks or in mouse holes. When disturbed, they hold their head up above their coils and shake their rattles.

▪ Copperhead – has a series of reddish-brown hourglass-shaped markings on its back. They live in partly shaded areas such as leaf piles or behind stones and logs. They are responsible for most poisonous snake bites, but their venom is only mildly toxic.

▪ Fire ants – Worker ants are approximately 1/8 of an inch long. Females are reddish brown and sting. Males are dark brown and harmless. Their mounds are above ground with loose soil and most commonly found along driveways, fence lines, patios and walkways. While their stings are small, often a secondary infection will occur and allergic reactions to stings are possible.

▪ Brown Recluse spider – grayish to dark brown with a violin shaped marking near the head. Their leg span is about the size of a quarter. They live in undisturbed areas such as under beds, in closets and under piles of wood. There is little pain at the time of bite, but a red ring will develop around the wound. The skin will begin to die and fall off, leaving an open wound that can take months to heal.

▪ Black Widow spider – Also approximately the size of a quarter, the Black Widow has a shiny, usually jet-black abdomen with a red hourglass mark on the underside. Females are larger and more venomous than males. They prefer dark or shaded areas under furniture, in latrines, in hollow logs or even in shoes. While the bite isn’t painful at first; pain, redness and swelling will occur within one to three hours. Pain progresses up or down the limb from the bite location and localizes in the abdomen where the venom may cause severe cramping. This pain can last up to 48 hours.

▪ Scorpions – These critters have eight legs, claws in the front and a stinger on the end of their tails. They, like the above spiders, prefer dark, undisturbed areas. The sting is painful and felt immediately and the discomfort and swelling may last for several days.

▪ Honeybees – While many people might not have an allergy to bee stings, honeybees in this region are nearly impossible to distinguish from their Africanized honeybee (killer bee) counterparts. While normal bees sting and leave, killer bees will continue to attack a person and release a pheromone that attracts the rest of the hive to join the attack. In these cases, the amount of poison can cause adverse reactions even in those who don’t have a pre-existing bee allergy. Those who know they have bee allergies should always carry a bee sting kit. Serious reactions to bee stings can cause anaphylactic shock.



Lawn care safety

While lawn care sounds like a lazy Sunday activity, there are dangers to consider when working outdoors and with sharp lawn care tools.

▪ Be mindful of your fluid intake to help prevent heat injuries.

▪ Wear long, loose-fitting clothes to protect from the sun and from flying debris. Also, wear eye protection to protect eyes from flying debris.

▪ If you need to reach under your mower, disconnect the spark plug to prevent injuries from the mower blades.

▪ Be mindful of where your weed eater cord is spinning.

▪ Keep an eye out for snakes and insects while maintaining your yard.



Everyone knows the summer is a time to kick back, relax and have a good time, just make sure to keep safety in mind while making decisions this time of year. For more information on training plans, call the Environmental Health office at 288-9112 or visit their website at crdamc.amedd.army.mil/default.asp?page=environhealth.