R 201431Z NOV 00 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//SD//
TO MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS //N05000//
MARADMIN 568/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC SD//
SUBJ/HOLIDAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/1. THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON IS HERE AGAIN. WHILE
TRADITIONALLY A TIME OF GREAT JOY, IT IS ALSO A TIME OF INCREASED
RISK. THE INTENT OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO RAISE YOUR RISK AWARENESS,
IN ORDER TO PREVENT NEEDLESS TRAGEDY.
2. LAST YEAR, FROM 24 NOV 99 TO 2 JAN 00, NINE MARINES DIED IN
PREVENTABLE MISHAPS; EIGHT IN OFF DUTY 4-WHEEL PMV MISHAPS, ONE
WHILE ON DUTY.
A. ON 11/24/99, A LCPL WAS INJURED WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT
HYDROPLANED ON A WET ROAD, STRUCK THE MEDIAN, SLID, STRIKING THE
GUARDRAIL AND BECAME AIRBORNE. THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED KILLING A
LCPL PASSENGER.
B. ON 11/25/99, A PFC WAS SPEEDING WHILE FATIGUED, BELIEVED TO HAVE
FALLEN ASLEEP, THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD STRIKING THE GUARDRAIL
AND CROSSING INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD-ON
BY ANOTHER PMV. THE PFC WAS KILLED AND TWO LCPL PASSENGERS INJURED.
C. ALSO ON 11/25/99, A CPL'S PMV WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER
VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED A THIRD PMV TO STRIKE THE CPL'S
VEHICLE. CPL RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.
D. ON 12/05/99, A CPL WITH A BAC OF .20 WAS SPEEDING, 75 MPH, AND
REAR ENDED A TRUCK CAUSING BOTH VEHICLES TO BURST INTO FLAMES. CPL
WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.
E. ON 12/10/99, A CPL WAS SPEEDING ON A WET ROAD CAUSING HIM TO LOSE
CONTROL ON A CURVE. THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD, STRUCK A TREE AND
FLIPPED EJECTING AND KILLING ONE PASSENGER. THE MARINE WAS NOT
WEARING A SEAT BELT. TWO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE INJURED.
F. ON 12/12/99, A CPL WAS SPEEDING AND LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE
CAUSING IT TO CROSS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER
PMV. THE CPL RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.
G. ON 12/19/99, A SGT WAS REMOVING HIS PISTOL FROM A SHOULDER HOLSTE
R WHEN HE DISCHARGED A ROUND THAT STRUCK HIM IN THE CHEST. THE ROUND
EXITED HIS BACK FATALLY WOUNDING HIM.
H. ON CHRISTMAS EVE, A GYSGT WITH A BAC OF .19 LOST CONTROL OF HIS
VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO RUN OFF THE ROAD, HIT A DITCH AND FLIP OVER.
THE VEHICLE LANDED ON THE ROOF FATALLY INJURING THE MARINE. HE WAS
NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT.
I. ON 12/30/99, A CPL WAS SPEEDING WHILE INTOXICATED, BAC OF .21, AND
LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LIGHT A CIGARETTE.
THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH, SPUN AND HIT A TREE. THE
CPL WAS FATALLY INJURED. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT.
3. IN ADDITION, DURING LAST YEAR'S WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON, TWO MARINES
RECEIVED PARTIAL DISABILITIES AS A RESULT OF INJURIES RECEIVED IN OFF
DUTY ACTIVITIES. ONE HIT HIS HAND WITH A CIRCULAR SAW CAUSING
PERMANENT DAMAGE TO HIS THUMB. THE SECOND WAS A RESULT OF A
DISCHARGE OF A SHOTGUN DURING CLEANING. THREE OTHER OFF DUTY DRIVING
MISHAPS THAT RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES INVOLVED DRINKING AND
DRIVING.
4. THE MOST COMMON HAZARDS WHEN DRIVING ANY MOTOR VEHICLE ARE
EXCESSIVE SPEED, FATIGUE, DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT AND ALCOHOL USE.
SEATBELTS SAVE LIVES AND CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF
SERIOUS INJURY.
5. MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING READINESS IN OUR
CORPS. DURING FY98 WE SUFFERED 42 MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES, IN FY
99 WE SUFFERED 51 MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES. IN FY00 WE LOST 62
MARINES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TREND IS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, FROM
42, TO 51, TO 62. THIS NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE REDUCES OUR READINESS,
INCREASES THE BURDEN ON THOSE LEFT TO CARRY ON AND INFLICTS A HIGH
EMOTIONAL TOLL ON OUR LOVED ONES.
6. LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL SHOULD TALK TO ALL MARINES AND SAILORS
ABOUT THEIR HOLIDAY PLANS. ENSURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS
THEY FACE. PROVIDE FAMILY MEMBERS SAFETY INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
IN PERSONAL RISK MANAGEMENT (PRM) AS WELL. LET EACH MARINE AND
SAILOR KNOW HOW VALUABLE THEY ARE TO OUR CORPS AND THAT ASSISTANCE
IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY PROBLEM.
7. MARINES AND SAILORS: TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR
SAFETY. CONTROLS FOR HIGHWAY HAZARDS INCLUDE: GOOD MAINTENANCE AND
VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION, DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT, PLANNING
YOUR TRIP, EXECUTING YOUR PLAN, PROPER REST, NUTRITION & HYDRATION,
SEATBELT USE AND DESIGNATED DRIVERS OR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION IF
YOU DRINK ANY ALCOHOL.
8. TO ENHANCE HOLIDAY RISK AWARENESS, THE SAFETY DIVISION HAS
PROVIDED SPECIAL HOLIDAY SAFETY IDEAS AND RESOURCES ON THEIR WEB
PAGE AT HTTP://WWW.HQMC.USMC.MIL/SAFETY.NSF//
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