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Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

MEDIA Preliminary Loss Reports

About Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

PLRs are intended to be used as an engagement tool for leaders to discuss the hazards and trends impacting Soldier safety and readiness. A PLR contains only basic information, as the investigation is ongoing, but provides sufficient background to allow leaders an opportunity to communicate risk at the Soldier level.

 

PLR 24-078 – Off-Duty Sports, Recreation and Physical Training Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Sports & Recreation

A 27-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in an off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at local. The Soldier was riding his dirt bike in a mountainous area, when he struck a tree. A hiker found him and called 911. Emergency medical services responded and airlifted the Soldier to Penrose Hospital where he was placed in a medically induced coma. He was taken off life support and later died from his injuries. The Soldier was wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment and alcohol was not a contributing factor.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 11 Soldiers a year to off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishaps. This was the fifth fatal off-duty sports, recreation and physical training fatality of FY24 and below the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

The Fundamentals of Dirt Bike Safety

Whether you are a new rider or a seasoned expert, we could all use the occasional refresher course on dirt bike safety. This guide from Northern Power Sports is here to help! Read on for a quick primer on dirt bike safety, and feel free to contact us with any questions. Northern Power Sports is your trusted motorcycle dealer in Fairbanks, AK.

Dress for Success

Each time you get behind the handlebars of your dirt bike, you should be wearing all the appropriate safety gear. That includes a DOT-approved helmet with eye protection, sturdy boots and gloves, long pants, and a riding jacket. If your helmet does not feature a visor, make sure to invest in a pair of goggles.

Stay on Designated Trails

Unless you have a dual-sport model, you should steer clear of paved surfaces when riding your dirt bike, except to cross the road where permitted. Dirt bikes are not street-legal, and with good reason: they do not have all the safety features required to navigate traffic. That’s why dirt bike riders of all experience levels should stick with designated off-road trails.

Ride with a Friend

There is safety in numbers, so you should implement the “buddy system” whenever possible when riding your dirt bike. This is especially important when you are a new rider, and when riding in remote areas where emergency services are not readily available.

Maintain Focus

Never ride your dirt bike if you are not feeling well enough to stay focused, or when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These substances will slow down your response time and limit your spatial awareness, which can lead to accidents. On long-distance rides, remember to pack enough food and water to keep you fueled up and focused.

Know Your Limits

While riding a dirt bike is all about high-speed thrills, there is an important difference between taking calculated risks and pushing yourself to a dangerous degree. For example, as a new rider, you should concentrate on basic skills before you tackle any advanced or intermediate trails. You should also take care never to exceed the limits of your bike, like its weight capacity or maximum speed.

Supervise Young Riders

Last but not least, make sure all riders under the age of 16 have constant adult supervision. Trail riding can be a great activity for the whole family, provided everyone has a good understanding of dirt bike safety. Young riders should also have bikes that are suitable for their size and experience level.

Dirt Bike Riding Tips

  1. Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, over-the-ankle boots and gloves.
  2. Except for dual-purpose models, never ride on paved surfaces except to cross when done safely and permitted by law – another vehicle could hit you. Dirt bikes are designed to be operated off-highway.
  3. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  4. Supervise riders younger than 16; dirt bikes are not toys.
  5. Never permit youngsters to ride dirt bikes that are too tall or too powerful for their capabilities.
  6. Don’t ride alone on remote trails. Use the buddy system.
  7. Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.
  8. Take a hands-on riding course.

Tips provided by Bike Safety and The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF)

 

 

PLR 24-077 – PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4

An 18-year-old Private First Class assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap near Hancock, Texas, at local. The Soldier was involved in a single vehicle mishap when her vehicle veered off the road. The local Justice of the Peace pronounced her dead at the scene. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including seat belt use, speed or alcohol, are currently unknown.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 31st fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Overview

Drowsy driving kills — but is preventable. Learn about three factors commonly associated with drowsy-driving crashes and pick up some helpful tips to avoid falling asleep at the wheel.

The number of fatalities involving drowsy drivers was 693 or 1.6 percent of total traffic fatalities in .

This represents a 1.1-percent decrease from 701 in .

Fatigue has costly effects on the safety, health, and quality of life of the American public. Whether fatigue is caused by sleep restriction due to a new baby waking every couple of hours, a late or long shift at work, hanging out late with friends, or a long and monotonous drive for the holidays – the negative outcomes can be the same. These include impaired cognition and performance, motor vehicle crashes, workplace accidents, and health consequences.

Tackling these issues can be difficult when our lifestyle does not align with avoiding drowsy driving. In a 24/7 society, with an emphasis on work, longer commutes, and exponential advancement of technology, many people do not get the sleep they need. Effectively dealing with the drowsy-driving problem requires fundamental changes to societal norms and especially attitudes about drowsy driving.

The terms drowsy, sleepy, and fatigue are used interchangeably although there are differences in the way these terms are used and understood.

NHTSA’s census of fatal crashes and estimate of traffic-related crashes and injuries rely on police and hospital reports to determine the incidence of drowsy-driving crashes.

NHTSA estimates that in , 91,000 police-reported crashes involved drowsy drivers. These crashes led to an estimated 50,000 people injured and nearly 800 deaths. But there is broad agreement across the traffic safety, sleep science, and public health communities that this is an underestimate of the impact of drowsy driving.

Drowsy-driving crashes

  1. Occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. At both times of the day, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm—the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep;
  2. Often involve only a single driver (and no passengers) running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking; and
  3. Frequently occur on rural roads and highways.

How To Avoid Driving Drowsy

  1. Getting adequate sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect yourself against the risks of driving when you’re drowsy. Experts urge consumers to make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For more information on healthy sleep, see In Brief: Your Guide to Healthy Sleep (PDF, 1.81 MB) at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website.
  2. Before the start of a long family car trip, get a good night’s sleep, or you could put your entire family and others at risk.
  3. Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of drowsy-driving crashes, especially on longer trips. Advise your teens to delay driving until they’re well-rested.
  4. Avoid drinking any alcohol before driving. Consumption of alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment.
  5. Always check your prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness could result from their use.
  6. If you take medications that could cause drowsiness as a side effect, use public transportation when possible.
  7. If you drive, avoid driving during the peak sleepiness periods (midnight – 6 a.m. and late afternoon). If you must drive during the peak sleepiness periods, stay vigilant for signs of drowsiness, such as crossing over roadway lines or hitting a rumble strip, especially if you’re driving alone.

Short-Term Intervention

  1. Drinking coffee or energy drinks alone is not always enough. They might help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a short time, and you might not be as alert as you think you are. If you drink coffee and are seriously sleep-deprived, you still may have “micro sleeps” or brief losses of consciousness that can last for four or five seconds. This means that at 55 miles per hour, you’ve traveled more than 100 yards down the road while asleep. That’s plenty of time to cause a crash.
  2. If you start to get sleepy while you’re driving, drink one to two cups of coffee and pull over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop. This has been shown to increase alertness in scientific studies, but only for short time periods.

Tips provide by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

 

PLR 24-076 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2
A Lieutenant Colonel assigned to San Antonio, Texas, died in a PMV-2 mishap 3 August 2024 at 1620 local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle when he was involved in a crash. Local police and emergency services responded, and he was pronounced dead while enroute to the local University hospital. He completed the Basic RiderCourse but was not wearing personal protective equipment. Speed and alcohol involvement are currently unknown.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 29th PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and below the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Per AR 385-10

Motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle rider protection. Commanders will ensure that all individuals covered by this regulation wear the following PPE while operating motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and ATVs on the installation and by all Soldiers who ride motorcycles and ATVs at any time on or off Army installations.

(1) Helmets.

(a) In the United States, meet FMVSS 218, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Standard, BS 6658, or Snell Standard according to DoDI 6055.04. The DOT symbol is on the outside back of the helmet, near the bottom.
(b) Outside the United States, meet the HN standards. If the HN has no standard, helmets must meet at a minimum DOT FMVSS.
(c) Properly fastened under the chin.

(2) Eye protection. Eye protection must meet or exceed ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 for impact and shatter resistance (includes goggles, wraparound glasses, or a full-face shield (properly attached to a helmet)). A windshield or fairing does not constitute eye protection.

(3) Foot protection. Foot protection includes sturdy over-the-ankle footwear that affords protection for the feet and ankles (durable leather or ballistic-type fabric athletic shoes that cover the ankles are acceptable).

(4) Protective clothing. Protective clothing includes long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long trousers, and full-fingered gloves or mittens made from leather or other abrasion-resistant material. Motorcycle jackets and pants constructed of abrasion-resistant materials (such as leather, Kevlar®, or Cordura®) and containing impact-absorbing padding are strongly encouraged. Riders are encouraged to select PPE that incorporates fluorescent colors and retro-reflective material.

Helmets
The most important protective gear.
Choose DOT compliant helmets for impact resistance and head injury prevention.
Full-face helmets offer additional comfort and protection.

Face Shields and Goggles
Essential for protecting the face from wind, insects, and debris.
Ensure they are impact-resistant and free of scratches.

Footwear
Over-the-ankle boots with oil-resistant soles provide protection against burns and impacts, and aid in maintaining grip.

Gloves
Full-fingered motorcycle gloves protect against various elements and injuries.
Ensure proper fit for optimal control and comfort.
Jackets, Pants, Riding Suits
Use leather or abrasion-resistant fabrics for protection.
Designed for comfort and crash protection, with features like wind flaps and fitted cuffs.

Overview
Riding a motorcycle is among the riskier modes of transportation. Not only does operating a motorcycle require more physical skill and strength than driving a passenger vehicle, but motorcycles lack a protective structure, offering the rider virtually no protection in a crash. Furthermore, the motorcycle’s smaller size relative to most motor vehicles may make it less visible to drivers and will also make it more vulnerable in a collision with larger, heavier passenger vehicles and trucks.

Motorcycling increased in popularity in the early 2000s with increases in both motorcycle registrations and VMT during that time. Since 2011, both registrations and VMT have remained relatively consistent (NCSA, 2000; NCSA, 2023).

Along with this growth in popularity and riding exposure was a rise in the number of crashes and fatalities involving motorcyclists. From 2000 to 2008 the number of motorcyclists killed in crashes increased by 83% and the number injured increased by 66% (NHTSA, 2011). Since 2015 more than 5,000 motorcyclists have been killed in traffic crashes annually (NCSA, 2023). Of increasing concern is the rise in fatal crashes since the COVID-19 pandemic for all road users, including motorcyclists (Office of Behavioral Safety Research, 2021).

Despite accounting for only 3.5% of registered vehicles, motorcyclists comprised 14% of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities in 2021. Additionally, motorcyclists were nearly 24 times more likely to die in traffic crashes per VMT than passenger car occupants (NCSA, 2023). Moreover, in 2021, per 100 million VMT, there were 30.68 motorcyclist fatalities compared to 1.22 passenger car occupant fatalities per 100 million VMT (NCSA, 2023).

Although motorcycles lack the protective vehicle structure of passenger vehicles, there are actions motorcyclists can take to protect themselves in a crash. Wearing a motorcycle helmet that meets the performance standards of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 (Motorcycle Helmets, 49 CFR Part 571, 2011; “compliant helmet”) is one of the most effective ways to reduce the chance of serious injury or death in a crash. In 2021 some 39% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing a helmet (NCSA, 2023). Research indicates that helmets reduce motorcycle rider fatalities by 22% to 42% and brain injuries by 41% to 69% (Coben et al., 2007; Cummings et al., 2006; Deuterman, 2004; NHTSA, 2003; NHTSA, 2006; NHTSA, 2019). A Cochrane Collaboration review of 61 studies concluded that risk reductions were on the high end of these ranges (Liu et al., 2008).

A study of hospital data in the 2013 National Trauma Data Bank compared medical outcomes of helmeted versus un-helmeted motorcyclists involved in a crash. Compared to helmeted motorcyclists, un-helmeted motorcyclists were more likely to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), more likely to need ventilation, and more likely to have clinical indicators of significant/severe injury (Patel et al., 2019). Another study found that riders who were wearing a helmet were less likely to have a cervical spine injury (Page et al., 2018). Notably, other studies have found no evidence that helmets increase the risk of neck injuries (Brewer et al., 2013; Potts et al., 2008, Strategy E1; NHTSA, 2000; Philip et al., 2013; Ulmer & Preusser, 2003).

Tips provided by AR 385-10, NHTSA and MSF
 

 

PLR 24-075 - Aviation Mishap Claims One Army Contractor's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Aviation

An Army Contractor at Fort Novosel, Alabama, died in an aviation mishap at local. During flight training with a student pilot, the aircraft had a catastrophic impact with the ground. The student pilot received minor injuries. The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is investigating the mishap.

Since FY19, the Army has had an average of eight Class A aviation flight mishaps and lost an average of seven Soldiers per year to on-duty aviation mishaps. This was the 14th Class A aviation flight mishap of FY24 and six above the number of similar mishaps during the same time last year.

 

 

PLR 24-074 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2

A 21-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, died in a PMV-2 mishap in Junction City, Kansas, at local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle on I-70 when he was involved in a head-on collision with a semi-truck in a construction zone. Local police and emergency services responded and pronounced him dead at the scene. He recently returned from a rotation in Europe and had not attended the motorcycle refresher course. He was properly licensed, wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment and had completed the Basic RiderCourse in . Speed or alcohol involvement are currently unknown.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 28th PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and below the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Motorcycle refresher training (MRT). MRT is required for any (motorcycle-licensed and endorsed) Soldier owning a motorcycle and returning from a deployment greater than 180 days. A Soldier must attend MRT prior to operating his or her motorcycle on a public or private street or highway with the exception of riding to the training site or location. MRT will be conducted on the individual’s own motorcycle to confirm ability to safely handle his or her motorcycle. Training will be provided at the unit level utilizing USACRC MRT digital video disk (DVD), which is available online at https://safety.army.mil or by request. Based on MRT performance, commanders can refer motorcycle riders back to the Progressive Motorcycle Program for re-training if they question the operator’s safe riding skills.

Improve Your Motorcycling Skills and Safety with Training
Motorcycling is a unique experience. Whether you ride to and from work, prefer the camaraderie of a group ride on the weekend or enjoy the vistas of an off-pavement excursion, motorcycling engages all your senses and creates an exhilarating sense of freedom.

Along with that freedom comes responsibility, and it's crucial to take every safety precaution.

All states require some form of license to ride a motorcycle on the street, demonstrating a minimum level of riding skill and knowledge. Liability insurance also is required. If your state does not require a hands-on training course before applying for a license, consider taking one anyway to learn basic riding skills and how to stay safe in traffic.

Riding a motorcycle requires a heightened sense of awareness, and more strength and coordination than driving a car. Riding also involves some risks not encountered when driving other vehicles. Motorcycle riders require more maneuvering skill and are more vulnerable in a crash. Motorcycles are not as easily seen as cars or trucks because of their narrow profile. Other motorists, particularly those who don’t ride a motorcycle, may not be looking for motorcycles in traffic. This places the motorcyclist at risk, particularly at intersections.

All these risks can be managed through training and education.

 

 
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