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    Navigating Heat Illnesses 0 Military Ops & Training
    USACRC Editor

    Navigating Heat Illnesses

    Foot marches and land navigation training involve a great deal of walking while wearing a rucksack and other required equipment. These types of physical activities induce significant sweating and fatigue, which can lead to heat illnesses....
    Your Input Matters: Data Quality in ASMIS 2.0 0 Workplace
    USACRC Editor

    Your Input Matters: Data Quality in ASMIS 2.0

    Data quality is a critical component in the effective use of the Army Safety Management Information System (ASMIS) 2.0. High-quality data ensures ASMIS 2.0 can fulfill its purpose of improving safety protocols, reducing mishaps and enhancing...
    Slip and Slide 0 PMV-4
    USACRC Editor

    Slip and Slide

    For service members, the first few weeks of reintegration after a long combat tour are crucial. We have to discard basic actions of doing even the smallest tasks that kept us safe during a time of danger. Surviving such harsh conditions also may...
    Heading Off the Rails 0 Military Ops & Training
    USACRC Editor

    Heading Off the Rails

    There I was, fresh out of Advanced Individual Training. I had just reported to my unit three weeks prior and now found myself sitting in the driver’s seat of a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) parked on a railcar. A few...

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    YouTube Certified

    YouTube Certified

    MAJ. GUY SERAPION
    201st Regional Support Group
    Georgia Army National Guard
    Dobbins Air Reserve Base
    Marietta, Georgia

    I fancy myself a shade-tree mechanic and do-it-yourself handyman. My father had the old-school mindset of when something broke, you fixed it. He taught me so much and his lessons have aided me greatly in all the projects I have taken on over the years. YouTube has been another incredible resource. I have repaired cars, built sheds and treehouses and fixed a number of things throughout my household. Doing so has helped me save a lot of money, but the greatest feeling is raising my hands in victory after I’ve successfully repaired, replaced or built something and then rewarding myself with an ice-cold beverage. That is the epitome of YouTube Certified!

    Recently, a violent thunderstorm damaged shingles on our roof, and my insurance company decided we should replace them all. I knew replacing shingles was a much bigger job than I was capable of tackling, but I could scrape and repaint the trim before the roof work began. That way, it wouldn’t matter if I spilled some paint or damaged the roof since it was going to be replaced anyway.

    I initially gained access to the roof by climbing out a window onto the lower level. However, I quickly realized the roof was much steeper than it appeared from the ground. So, I went down to my basement, put on my climbing harness and grabbed some rope. This time, I decided to access the roof through the attic dormer. I anchored myself to the rafters in the attic and had my son provide tension on the rope as I moved around. For added security, I also nailed a 2x4 to the edge of the roofline for me to stand on and prevent sliding.

    I made my way out onto the roof and proceeded to scrape and paint the trim. The harness was uncomfortable and awkward, but it gave me some peace of mind as I continued my repairs. I started low and then moved my way up to the dormer. As I worked my way up, I pushed more and more on the 2x4 that was nailed to the roof. Eventually, the pressure became too much and the 2x4 broke loose and shot off the edge. Gravity won again, and I followed the board and slammed into the roof. I grabbed the bottom of the windowsill and my son immediately put tension on the rope to prevent me from falling any farther. Unfortunately, I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and those hot shingles began burning the soft flesh on the underside of my arm.

    With my son’s assistance on the rope, I was able to pull myself back through the window into the attic. At that point, I took some heavy breaths and contemplated the decisions I had made in my life. I started laughing and so did my son. I had escaped serious injury, but my close call resulted in a moment of clarity. Even though I was capable and my safety measures worked for the most part, there are some things you should leave to the professionals. I may be a YouTube-certified handyman, but I am not a professional. While there are a few things I will continue to repair myself, if it’s anything that can result in serious injury or death, I will spend the money to hire a pro.

     

    • 4 August 2024
    • Author: USACRC Editor
    • Number of views: 404
    • Comments: 0
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