Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 21-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a water-related mishap 8 August 2022 in Belton, Texas, at 1130 local. During a company organizational day at Temple Lake Park in Belton, Texas, the Soldier began swimming across a small cove. He started showing signs of distress approximately 100 meters from shore, submerged underwater and did not resurface. Soldiers from the company notified authorities and attempted to rescue him. Local authorities located the Soldier unresponsive at approximately 1330 and pronounced him dead at the scene. This mishap is still under investigation by local law enforcement.

Since FY17, the Army has lost an average of nine Soldiers a year to water-related mishaps. This was the sixth fatal water-related mishap of FY22.


Swimming in Lakes, Rivers, & Oceans

Swimming in open water (lakes, rivers, ponds and the ocean) is harder than in a pool. People tire faster and get into trouble more quickly. A person can go under water in a murky lake, making them very hard to find, or be swept away in currents.

·Swim in a lifeguarded area, especially if you are not a strong swimmer.

·Be cautious of sudden drop-offs in lakes and rivers. People who can't swim or aren't strong swimmers have slipped into deeper water and drowned.

·Stay sober when on or in the water. Alcohol and other drugs increase the effects of weather, temperature and wave action.


The Off-Duty Safety Awareness Presentation includes a section dedicated to water-related activities which contains statistics, contributing factors, prevention tips and other relevant information. You can download the full presentation or the Water-Related Activities breakout from the In the Spotlight Series at: https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/Home-and-Family/Off-Duty-Safety-Awareness-Presentation-2022

For additional information, visit: https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/Sports-and-Recreation/Water-Safety.

 

A Sergeant assigned to Fort Hood, Texas died in a PMV-2 mishap 13 August 2022 in Killeen, Texas, at 0030 local. The Soldier was traveling north when he lost control while negotiating a turn. He was ejected into the inside lane of northbound traffic and struck by a pick-up truck. The pick-up truck failed to stop and render aid. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing the required personnel protective equipment and had completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation training. It is currently unknown if speed, alcohol, or drugs were a contributing factor. The Killeen Police Department is conducting the investigation.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 25 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 23rd off-duty PMV-2 fatality of FY22.


When it comes to motorcycle riding at night and its safety challenges, different people have different opinions. Some think that driving at night is safe since there are fewer road users and traffic congestion. However, there are still others who view that night riding should be completely avoided due to the associated risks.
No matter the opinion, there are some challenges associated with motorcycle riding at night.

Low visibility

This is the most critical challenge facing motorcycle riding and other road users at night. With low visibility, it becomes very difficult to maintain focus and speed. As a result, many road accidents occur at night.

This could either be that the rider can’t see other objects clearly, or other road users do not see him. However, this can be an easy fix by using motorcycle glasses for night riding that enhance low light visibility.

Obstacles

Obstacles on the road can pose a great safety risk to riders at night. It could be in the form of debris, roadblocks, potholes, manholes, loose gravel, and others. In addition, due to darkness, the obstacle could become less visible to the rider. In such a case, maneuverability will also reduce, and a potential collision could be life-threatening.

Drunk riders and drivers

When you decide to ride in the night, you should know that you’re not the only rider. Some other riders and drivers might be drunk. When a drunk driver is behind the wheel, they can’t maintain good road safety tips. Moreover, if the driver has limited vision, he’ll pose dangerous risks on the road for others.

Animals

Most animals that run in the night will naturally freeze once they gaze into oncoming headlights. If the animal’s eyes emit a glow, it will be a signal to you of its presence. However, if the eyes don’t, you may not notice their presence in time. Therefore, running through them or trying to maneuver around them at close range could lead to an accident.


Motorcycle Safety Tips for Riding at Night

1. Enhance your visibility

Low visibility is a critical safety risk for motorcycle riding at night. But you can make yourself more visible during your night rides in the following ways.

-Wear high visible gear/clothing – Making yourself seen in the night is a great means of reducing accidents. Wear brightly colored clothing or a jacket before your ride. Wearing fluorescent colors such as green, yellow, orange, and white will make you seen by other riders and drivers. When you dress in all black or dark colors, it keeps you hidden and limits your safety.

-Use a white helmet – Wearing a helmet with safety certifications will provide protection in case of accidents. However, while gearing up, select a white helmet. This helps other road users pick you out with ease.

-Include reflective tape – You can increase your visibility by adding reflective tape to your clothing. Such tapes emit reflective lights at night and will help you increase your safety.

-Use a loud exhaust to be heard – Not only should you make yourself more visible, but you also should be heard. Using a loud exhaust for your motorcycle will cause other road users to hear your approaching movement even before seeing you.


2. Increase your Motorcycle visibility

Here are some of the ways you can make your bike more visible:

-Switch on the headlights and clean them when necessary– Riding in the night with a faulty headlight is risky. Instead, ensure your headlight is on and functioning properly. This will help to illuminate your front space. Never ride your motorcycle with streetlights. Also, the lenses of your headlights can get dirty over a long time of usage. With debris and dirt particles on the road, the lenses can become fogged and cloudy. However, with the use of water and clean non-fluffy clothing, you can easily clean the lenses to make the lighting brighter during your ride.

-Ensure your brake handle and lights are functional – Before you embark on a ride in the night, you should check your brake and the brake lights. If other road users can see your brake light, they will know when you’ve hit the brake to slow down. This will increase your safety.

-Clean or replace your visor – Your bike visor can undergo wear and tear. Also, it can become dirty, which will invariably reduce your visibility. Therefore, ensure you regularly clean the visor, and when it becomes too old, replace it.


Sources for the tips provided: https://helmetsadvisor.com/motorcycle-safety-tips-for-riding-at-night/

Helmets Advisor Safety Blog

 

A 29-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, on deployment orders in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, died in a PMV-4 mishap 27 July 2022 in Klaipeda, Lithuania, at 1800 local. The Soldier was operating a rented vehicle and was stopped at a drawbridge while it was in the raised position. The vehicle moved forward into the open gap, falling into the Dane River. Local divers recovered the Soldier’s body shortly after the event; however, the cause of death is still undetermined. This mishap is under investigation by the Lithuanian authorities.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 26th PMV-4 fatality of FY22.

 

A Staff Sergeant and Second Lieutenant assigned as students at Fort Benning, Georgia, died in a combat skills/military unique mishap 9 August 2022 in Cleveland, Georgia, at 1515 local. While conducting mountaineering training, the unit went into its lightning-lockdown procedures as strikes occurred within 10 miles of the area. While the students spread out, the wind blew a large portion of a tree onto five students. Unit medics transported the two fatally injured Soldiers off the mountainside and transferred the Soldiers onto local ambulances with the unit physician’s assistant assisting along the way. The remaining three Soldiers sustained non-fatal injuries and were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia. Two of the Soldiers who suffered non-fatal injuries were discharged. The third injured Soldier was hospitalized for two days and discharged for outpatient care. The USACRC is leading a safety investigation into the mishap.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of three Soldiers a year to combat skills/military unique mishaps. This tragedy was the third and fourth combat skills/military unique fatalities of FY22.

 

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF