Risk Management Magazine

Procedural complacency can transform a routine postflight walkaround into an agonizing, career-stalling medical emergency in a fraction of a second. Following a demanding 3.5-hour instrument training flight in a UH-60V Black Hawk, a flight crew's brief lapse in checklist discipline turned a routine engine shutdown into a severe, preventable injury. This mishap serves as a warning to all Soldiers that a mission is never truly complete until the aircraft is fully shut down, secured and safely parked.

The roadway is one of the most dangerous places a person can be, yet most of us treat driving as a mindless daily routine. Across the nation, thousands of lives are shattered in an instant on public roads, transforming ordinary commutes into sudden tragedies.

Look closely at your formation. The next cold-weather casualty is likely standing right in front of you. Although winter weather threatens every Soldier, targeting prevention efforts at the highest-risk demographic pays massive dividends for leaders.