DRIVE SAFE, STAY FROSTY, LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER
The following link is designed to provide you with information and resources to fight drunk driving in your community. It also has a lot of valuable knowledge to keep everyone safe throughout the traffic heavy holiday season - Make sure to check it out: Click Here!
SAFE HOLIDAY (July 4th) DRIVING
When you’re behind the wheel of a car – whether alone or with passenger – driving safely is paramount. We’re more distracted than ever, so it’s crucial to know the basics of safe driving and practice them every time you’re on the road. Ensure you and your vehicle are in the right condition before you get behind the wheel. Dangerous driving behaviors like speeding, distraction and impairment are the greatest threats to pedestrians.
- Avoid distracted driving.
- Don’t drink and drive.
- Follow the rules of the road and don’t Speed.
- Use caution when changing lanes. Cutting in front of someone, changing lanes too fast or not using your signals may cause an accident or upset other drivers.
*Note: Between fiscal years 2013 to 2023, Excessive Speed was the reported leading causal factor of PMV fatalities across the Navy and Marine Corps Services, followed by Improper Maneuvering.
GRILLING SAFETY
There’s nothing like outdoor grilling. It’s one of the most popular ways to cook food. But a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. It can be very hot, causing burn injuries. Learn simple tips and you will be on the way to safe grilling.
Statistics on Grilling Fires
(Based on 2021-2023 annual averages. Source: NFPA Research)
- July (16%) was the peak month for grill fires, followed by June (14%), May (12%), and August (11%).
- Partial cause grills had not been cleaned made up one-fifth (20%) of the fires.
- More than one-quarter of grill structure fires started on an exterior balcony or open porch. Eight percent began when an outside wall caught on fire; 4% began with some type of structural member of the framing.
- Gas grills were involved in an average of 9,079 home fires per year, including 4,454 structure fires and 4,625 outdoor fires annually. Leaks or breaks were primarily a problem with gas grills. Six percent of gas grill’s structure fires and 15% of outside gas grill fires were caused by leaks or breaks.
- According to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2021-2023, an average of 22,155 patients per year went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills.
Safety Tips
- For propane grills, check the gas tank for leaks before use in the months ahead.
- Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
- Place the grill well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grilling area.
- If you use starter fluid when charcoal grilling, only use charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire. When you have or are finished grilling, let the coals cool completely before disposing in a metal container.
- Never leave your grill unattended when in use.
HEAT STRESS
It’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking heat stress only happens during vigorous exercise, but the service members affected by these mishaps learned that it could happen anytime. While your level of physical activity is a big factor, other factors can cause a heat stress mishap too. So, keep these points in mind as the summer temperatures increase.
1. Hydration, hydration, hydration. Sweating is your body’s primary means of regulating its temperature. It doesn’t matter how in shape you are: If you don’t hydrate properly, you are asking to go down. Proper hydration starts the day before an event and continues through completion. Make sure you’re drinking the right fluids, too. Energy drinks (that our Marines and Sailors love so much) aren’t it—they dehydrate you. The caffeine in energy drinks (lots of it) causes increased urination, and the sugar molecules pull water out of the body and into the bloodstream; together they double up and lead to quick dehydration (so you might feel energetic…right up till you collapse from dehydration). Hydrate intelligently. Ask yourself when the last time that you urinated was? What color was it? Brown/Dark Yellow = Bad, Light yellow/Clear = Good.
2. Know when to cool down. A little awareness can save lives. Watch for heat stress indicators like headaches, cramps, and fatigue. Resting and rehydrating might get the service member back in action. If heat stress isn’t treated, it can devolve into dizziness/lightheadedness, nausea and vomiting, an absence of sweating and eventually full-blown heat stroke. Know when to quit and keep an eye out for each other. The worse somebody gets with heat stress, the less likely they can recognize their own symptoms.
3. Plan appropriately. Individuals must hydrate and dress accordingly. Leadership must take extra action. Plan adequate breaks for your events, have places for your personnel to refill water and designate people to monitor your Sailors’ and Marines’ well-being.