X

Search for Knowledge!

Sort by Category

Categories

Sort by Date

«July 2025»
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
293012345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829303112
3456789

Latest Knowledge

Latest Knowledge

  • All
  • Mishap Reporting & Investigation
  • On-Duty
  • Aviation
  • Military Ops & Training
  • Government Vehicle
  • Workplace
  • DA Civilian
  • Explosives & Weapons
  • Off-Duty
  • Automobiles
  • Motorcycles
  • Recreational & Specialty Vehicle
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Privately Owned Weapons
  • Home & Family
    More
    When Cutting Corners Becomes the Norm 0 Workplace
    USACRC Editor

    When Cutting Corners Becomes the Norm

    The true danger of normalizing deviance lies in its subtlety. Initially, deviations might seem minor and inconsequential. Examples include skipping a procedural step due to a time crunch, deferring a minor maintenance procedure because...
    Staying in the Fight 0 Military Ops & Training
    USACRC Editor

    Staying in the Fight

    Combatives training is an important part of being a prepared Soldier. It provides the skills to help you protect yourself, as well as your battle buddies, in combat. Unfortunately, this training can sometimes take Soldiers out of the fight if...
    DITY Dumb or DITY Do? 0 Automobiles
    USACRC Editor

    DITY Dumb or DITY Do?

    Just like long checkout lines at the commissary on payday, the permanent change of station (PCS) move is a certainty for service members and their families. While many would prefer to let professionals handle the heavy lifting on Uncle...
    Light Up the Night Safely 0 Home & Family
    USACRC Editor

    Light Up the Night Safely

    Unfortunately, a lot of folks don’t take the major hazards related to fireworks seriously. Some people enjoy igniting firecrackers or cherry bombs and holding them in their hand as long as possible before throwing them — sometimes at...

    No content

    A problem occurred while loading content.

    Previous Next

    Fighting the Freeze

    Fighting the Freeze

    SGT. 1ST CLASS CHERLEEKA THIGPEN
    Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
    3rd Chemical Brigade
    Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

    It was December at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and our unit was preparing for a field training exercise. Leadership was monitoring the weather because winters can be pretty crazy at Fort Sill. Temperatures were expected to hover around the freezing mark during the daytime and drop to minus 17 F at night. Whatever the weather, we were determined to be prepared.

    We identified Soldiers with prior cold-weather injuries and correctly marked and recorded them. All of the Soldiers were then given a class on how to identify and treat cold injuries, who to notify in the event of an injury and how to layer clothing as the temperature drops. Afterward, we continued packing, adding additional warming kits, potbellied stoves and coal to burn.

    Instead of canceling the night portion of training before the temperature dropped, leadership decided to stay and continue as scheduled. We prepped the sleeping areas with the stoves and coals and added extra stakes to the tents to keep them from loosening in the high winds. We then created a fireguard roster and gave the Soldiers a class on the dangers and injuries that can occur from stoves.

    The drill sergeants lit the stoves and monitored them as they warmed. As night passed, the temperature dropped and the wind picked up to 10 mph. The cold weather at Fort Sill is unpleasant when wind is involved. Actually, it’s horrible. On this night, the tents began loosening from the stakes, which were also being held with sandbags. As the wind continued to pick up, the coals were unable to burn as they should, and the stoves eventually became useless.

    The chain of command at the battalion was notified of the change in weather and the Soldiers’ living conditions. While waiting on the command to decide whether we would continue the training, the drill sergeants headed to the sleeping tents to check on the Soldiers. Four Soldiers were identified as having frostnip, the freezing of the top layers of skin tissue, which is considered first-degree frostbite. Six Soldiers had chilblains, a nonfreezing injury resulting from repeated and prolonged skin exposure to cold, wet conditions. Initially, the skin is pale and colorless before becoming achy and numb. Upon rewarming, the skin becomes red, swollen, itchy and tender. The company commander notified the battalion commander of these injuries, and the decision was made to report back to the company area.

    What is the moral of this story? As a leader in charge of the health and welfare of others, do not be afraid to make a decision. If you know something is wrong, correct it and deal with the consequences later. These injuries could have been prevented with leader engagement at all levels. Mission success happens with engaged leaders who care and through proper planning and training.

     

    FYI

    The Defense Health Agency-Public Health provides a wealth of information for safe winter operations. For guidance on the use of heaters inside tents and other enclosed shelters, visit https://ph.health.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/Guidance_on_the_Use_of_Heaters_Inside_Tents_FS-55-007-0114.pdf#search=tent%20heaters. The site also offers a cold-weather injury fact sheet highlighting risk factors and prevention guidance at https://ph.health.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/disease_epi-cold-weather-Injuries-factsheet.pdf#search=tent%20heaters.

     

    • 26 January 2025
    • Author: USACRC Editor
    • Number of views: 280
    • Comments: 0
    Tags:
    Print