Email   Print   Share By Julie Cordova, Installation Safety Office

Facebook Digg Delicious June 7, 2012 | Editorial

A wise man, Neil Peart, lyricist and drummer for the band Rush, once penned, “We’re only immortal for a limited time.”

Truer words were never written, even if they were never meant to be taken literally.

Those of us who are older remember a time when our younger selves certainly felt immortal. We took crazy risks and made thoughtless decisions that put our safety, and even our lives, in peril. Once our experience and wisdom increased, we began to understand that we are not really immortal at all, and our time on this earth is limited. We certainly don’t want to spend it in a wheelchair or have it cut short, when that is preventable.

With the sights, sounds and smells of summer upon us, those of us who aren’t find ourselves feeling young again, and those of us who are don’t need to be reminded. We want to spend time in the sun with Family and friends, splashing in a lake, having a barbecue or engaging in any number of fun summertime activities. But we don’t want to be injured or killed doing these things, so we should all apply the principles of Composite Risk Management when we plan our summertime fun.

We need to identify and assess the hazards and make decisions to control or eliminate the risks. If we are going to be riding a motorcycle, for instance, we need to be sure we have the proper training and wear all of our protective gear including a helmet. Most motorcycles accidents involve speeding and intoxication, so slow down and stay sober.

First, we must consider a constant threat to our safety this summer – the sun. The sun can cause painful sunburns, heat illness, and in the long term, skin cancer. Remember to apply sunscreen whenever you are outside for any length of time, especially in the afternoon when the sun is hottest. You should select, at minimum, a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 30, and reapply it frequently if you are sweating heavily or swimming.

Be sure to keep hydrated to stave off heat illness. A good rule of thumb is to drink a liter of water every hour and try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Drink even if you don’t feel thirsty and look for signs of heat exhaustion, such as headaches, dizziness and nausea, which can lead to fatal heat stroke. The symptoms of heat stroke are actually more subtle. Victims will quit sweating altogether and their skin will be dry and hot. They may become confused and not realize they are seriously ill. Get them out of the sun immediately, give them water, and call 911.

Water sports have inherent risks, as well. Never go swimming alone, and don’t swim if you have been drinking alcohol. If you are going boating, remember to check weather and water conditions beforehand and have the right size of lifejacket on board for you and each of your passengers. Make sure the boat is in good condition, that you have enough gas for the trip and don’t drink if you are driving the boat. Under Texas law, a minor’s driver’s license can be suspended if they fail a breath or blood alcohol test while operating a watercraft. Additionally, adults can now be charged with a state jail felony if they are caught driving a vehicle or a boat while intoxicated with a passenger under the age of 15.

Even something as innocuous as a backyard barbecue comes with risks. Place your grill in a safe, well-ventilated location. Never grill inside or in a semi-enclosed area, such as a garage or camper. Make sure you are not wearing clothing that could contact the fire, such as hanging shirt-tails and dangling strings. When cooking with propane, read the owner’s manual and operating instructions carefully. Never start a charcoal grill fire with gasoline. Control flare-ups by using low-fat meat or well-trimmed meat. Keep the cover closed and adjust vents as necessary. Keep a fire extinguisher or water nearby and never leave the grill unattended.

Let’s all stay safe this summer and remember to use Composite Risk Management in everything we do – both on and off duty.