Staying safe during 101 Critical Days of Summer

The 101 Critical Days of Summer began on Memorial Day weekend and ends after Labor Day. This is, of course, the largest vacation period of the year. The sun is shining and people are out swimming, boating, visiting family and friends far away, playing and having a good time.

It’s also a time of celebration, recreation, staying awake long hours and driving more miles than your body has the energy for. With all those fun summer activities, the following safety tips are offered to make your summer a safe and happy one.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a common denominator in off-duty mishaps. Since 2014, there have been nearly 80 off-duty mishaps in the Navy involving alcohol. Most alcohol-related mishaps involve vehicles, both the two-wheeled and four-wheel variety. Naval personnel also die while handling weapons, boating, swimming, fishing, and participating in other activities while consuming alcohol.

Vehicle Safety

Summer means trips. Trips should mean preparation. Ensure your car is up-to-date on its maintenance; all of its fluids are topped off and fresh. The Naval Safety Center reported 29 off-duty private motor vehicle fatalities in 2018, and 10 off-duty recreational fatalities.

Don’t drink and drive. More than four out of every ten traffic deaths involve alcohol. Even one drink affects your judgment, concentration, reaction time, and your ability to drive. If you have had one drink, don’t drive. If a friend or family member drinks, call them a cab or drive them home.

Wear your lap and shoulder belt correctly, although state seat belt use laws vary, OPNAVINST 5100.12J, the Navy Traffic Safety Program, states that the standard for personnel is that seat belts will always be worn when driving or riding in a vehicle whether on or off the installation.

Engaging in subtasks such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting triples the risk of getting into a crash. As a driver, you are already multitasking by using visual, cognitive and manual skills to drive. Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,166 lives in 2017. For more information on distracted driving, check out www.distraction.gov.

Fatigue slows reaction time and leads to higher incidents of traffic mishaps. In fact, fatigued and drowsy drivers cause an estimated 100,000 police-reported crashes each year. And 24 hours with no sleep makes you just as dangerous on the road as someone with a .08 blood alcohol level.

Speeding kills. Eleven Sailors lost their lives last year because they failed to obey posted speed limit.

Water Safety

The Navy lost eight Sailors to off-duty, water-related activities from 2014-2018. Think through the activity before the action occurs and apply the same principles used to prevent mishaps on duty - training, standards and discipline.

Training is important, if you learn to swim, you are less likely to drown. Always swim with a buddy and swim only in areas that have a lifeguard.

Navy standards require you to wear a life jacket. So do laws in virtually every state and locality. Wearing a life jacket offers drowning protection, especially if you go into the water unexpectedly.

You should always exercise discipline and limit or avoid alcohol consumption while relaxing in or on the water. Studies have shown that the effects of alcohol are exacerbated by sun and wind.

When participating in any type of water-related activity, it is important to identify the hazards and to know your limits. For example, when swimming in rivers, lakes and oceans, be aware of swift currents and undertows. Critical information to prevent fatal or crippling injuries includes knowing how deep the water is before you dive in. In addition to the Sailors who died in water-related mishaps in the last several, another three Sailors suffered permanently disabling injuries after diving into shallow waters.

Heat Safety

Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them. Use a buddy system when working in the heat and monitor the conditions of your co-workers. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness.

To avoid heat-related illnesses, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing made of breathable materials, like cotton. Use sunscreen and stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities on hot days and pace yourself if you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment.

Heat cramps can occur after several hours of physical exertion in the heat. Symptoms include painful muscle spasms usually in the legs or abdomen. If these symptoms occur, get out of the heat and into the shade, hydrate with water or sports drink and stretch and massage the muscle.

Heat exhaustion occurs due to loss of water and salt through sweat. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and cool, clammy skin. If you are experiencing these symptoms, stop and rest, hydrate and get into a cool room or shade, loosen clothing and apply cool wet towels or pour cool water over the head.

Heat stroke is a serious condition when the body’s cooling system stops working and core temperature rises to dangerous levels. If ignored, heat stroke can lead to death.Symptomsof heat stroke are red, hot and dry skin, rapid but weak pulse, rapid but shallow breathing, confusion, faintness, staggering, hallucinations, unusual agitation or coma. To treat the symptoms of heat stroke, reduce body temperature by cooling the body, remove unnecessary clothing, apply water, cool air, wet sheets or ice on the neck, groin and armpits to accelerate cooling and seek professional medical attention immediately.

Sports and Exercise Safety

Sporting activities and extreme hobbies can be fun, relieve stress, and build confidence, but not preparing for risks can have permanent effects. Regardless of what sport you decide to participate in, make sure you are physically prepared and have the proper training, required certification, clothing, and equipment to conduct the activity.

Whether you’re walking or jogging, be aware of your surroundings and avoid running or walking in secluded areas or at night. Always take precautions to protect yourself because its easy to become so focused on your run that you stop paying attention what’s happening around you. Wear bright colored clothing to improve your visibility to motorists.

Hundreds of cyclists are killed each year in traffic accidents according to the NHTSA. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road.

Grilling Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year an average of 8,900 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to burns.

Use grills outdoors only. Grilling inside any type of enclosed space, such as a garage or a tent poses both a fire hazard and escalates the risk of exposing occupants to toxic gases and asphyxiation.

Periodically clean the trays below the grill so the heat source used during cooking won’t ignite the grease and food residue.

If using a gas cylinder, check the hose for leaks periodically, especially before using it for the first time each year. A light soap and water solution applied to the hose will quickly reveal escaping propane by forming bubbles.