Joint Service Winter Safety Campaign

Because all military services face similar risk management challenges, the Naval Safety Center (NSC) took the lead in the first-ever Joint Service Winter Safety Campaign. In joining forces with the Army Combat Readiness Center and the Air Force Safety Center, NSC is able to maximize resources and provide the latest information about fatigued and distracted driving, drunk driving, winter sports safety and much, much more. Videos, presentations, articles and posters are available for download at http://safetycenter.navy.mil/seasonal/winter08. Use these materials to develop a winter season safety stand down at your command or place of business.

Home Heating Costs Rise

This summer, the Department of Energy estimated that home heating costs would rise this winter by significant amounts, and many Americans are looking for ways to save on their heating bills. There’s a risk that some will choose to be cost-conscious at the expense of safety-consciousness. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the main hazard is when people turn to space heaters as a supplemental form of heating. NFPA recommends space heater models with automatic shut-off switches that activate anytime the unit tips over. Make it a practice to turn off the heater whenever leaving the room. There’s also a concern about the use of fireplaces and wood stoves, which lead to fire hazards and the increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Nationwide, about 480 deaths occur each year as the result of carbon monoxide poisoning and another 15,000 people are sent to hospitals after exposure to the odorless, tasteless, colorless gas. The best way to protect yourself is to install a carbon monoxide detector on the lowest level of your house. If you’re using a portable kerosene heater, remember to only use it in a well-ventilated space and check with your local building inspectors to see if these heaters are allowed where you live.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

A fire on any day seems bad, but a fire on Christmas is the worst. Some 300 Christmas trees caught fire in one recent year, with electrical problems the most common culprit. Here's how to keep your tree green and your presents safe: When you buy your tree, have the vendor make a fresh cut an inch from the bottom; this will help the tree drink. You must put the tree in fresh water within 4 hours or else the sap on the butt will harden and the tree will not be able to draw water. For every inch of tree butt, the tree will consume one quart of water per day for the first week. Discard any strings of lights that are frayed or broken. Christmas lights are cheap. Unplug your Christmas tree before you leave or go to bed. Don't buy a tree that is dry and dropping needles. To check for freshness, loosely grip the end of a branch and pull your hand over it. Only a few needles should fall off. Make sure your tree stand holds plenty of water, and don't let it run out. If your tree seems wobbly, center it in the stand more securely and redo the bolts or screws. Of if your tree stand is low-quality, buy a larger, stronger one. Keep your tree at least three feet from furnaces, radiators and fireplaces. Try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits. Keep a close eye on small children when they are around the tree; many small decorations and ornaments are sharp, breakable and can be swallowed.

Don’t Drive Drunk During the Holidays – Or Ever

It’s a safe bet that very few young Sailors and Marines start out an evening of fun with the plan to drive home drunk. Yet, every year, several of them wind up in jail cells, sleeping it off and watching helplessly as their once-bright futures slip away in the aftermath. And that’s just the lucky ones who got caught. Others never get the chance to learn from this mistake and instead become tragic statistics. Unfortunately, the number of drunken driving arrests and traffic fatalities increases every year during the holiday season. It’s important to plan for a safe ride home before taking the first sip of alcohol. The best of intentions can fall apart as alcohol impairs judgment. “Young Sailors and Marines may go out with the intention of having a designated driver, but because of peer pressure, the designated driver gets drunk too,” said the Naval Safety Center’s command master chief, CMDCM(AW/SW) Charles Blanks. “If you’re going to be the designated driver, then do your job. Don’t drink,” he added. Responsible options for those who plan to drink include calling a cab or using their command’s Tipsy Taxi service. Most installations have this program which offers a “no questions asked” ride back to the ship. Sailors pay the taxi bill later, but it’s a lot cheaper than fines, lawyer bills, community service, and career damage that come with a DUI charge.

Fatigued Drivers Should Get a Room

It happens every year. Sailors and Marines excited about the opportunity to spend the holidays with their families find themselves in bumper to bumper holiday traffic after putting in a full day of work. The flashing brake lights in front of them cause a hypnotic trance as what should have been a four- or five-hour drive stretches into six, seven or eight. Under these circumstances, the odds of an accident skyrocket as the odds of a happy holiday with the family plummet. The Naval Safety Center (NSC) recommends taking breaks every two hours to stretch legs and rest tired eyes. However, it’s also important to know when fatigue has lowered reflexes to the point that short breaks aren’t enough. Sometimes it’s necessary to stop and get a hotel room for the night. It’s also important to remember that there are limits to the amount of driving a person can do safely in one day – especially if the trip occurs after a long day at work. NSC recommends that drive time and work time together not exceed 12 hours. Fatigue affects the body similarly to alcohol – fatigued drivers are impaired drivers!

Tips for Winter Driving

If you don't have to drive – don’t! But if you must, drive defensively and smart. That means before beginning your trip, know the current road conditions. Be alert for potential driving hazards including downed branches, trees, electric lines and icy areas, such as shady spots and bridges. Leave a few minutes early to allow extra time to get to your destination and slow down.! Triple the usual following distance between your car and the one ahead. If the roads have been plowed, stay in the plowed lane; avoid driving over the ridges between the plowed areas. If you must switch lanes, slow down, signal and move over slowly. Don't pass a snowplow or spreader unless it is absolutely necessary and don't park along the street. Snowplow drivers can't fully clear a road if cars are in their way. If you skid, steer into the skid. If the back of your car is skidding to the left, for example, turn the steering wheel to the left. Don't pump your brakes, and avoid locking them up. If your brakes lock, take your foot off the brake pedal for a moment. While driving, keep your headlights on. Keep an emergency winter driving kit with a blanket, flashlight, first aid kit, and water in the car.

Winter Sports Safety

Heading for the ice, snow, or slopes? Dress in several layers of tops and pants under warm jackets and add hats, gloves or mittens, and waterproof boots. Check for hanging drawstrings that can catch on sleds, ski lifts, and other equipment. Use short, not long scarves and tuck them into jackets. Respect the cold. When the temperature is below freezing, beware of frostbite and hypothermia. Check on kids often to make sure they don't get too cold. Keep infants inside, if possible, when it is under 40 degrees. Make sure babies' faces remain dry and protected, as cold injury can result from wind whipping their saliva and drool. If clothing is wet, either from snow or diapers, it no longer acts as an insulator. Before starting any sport, take lessons from a qualified instructor. Consider taking a first-aid course and make sure children are always properly supervised. If you’re an ice skater, remember that although ponds are scenic, rinks offer safer conditions for everyone. Rent or buy skates that fit and lace them tightly. Teach kids to fall on their behinds, not on their hands. Always carry skates to and from the rink -- never wear them. If you’re going to sled, use a sturdy sled with good steering and no sharp edges. Choose a spot with no holes, rocks, stumps, trees, ice, cars, or streets. Avoid very steep hills. Many families enjoy skiing together, but know your limits and stick to the slopes you can handle. Snowboarders, check your bindings to make sure they will release easily during falls. As with skiing, boots that stay attached to skis during a fall are what causes most ankle injuries. Look for a resort that has separate areas for snowboarding.

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