Risk Management Magazine

Despite increased messaging warning Soldiers of the dangers of riding a motorcycle, FY23 was the worst year in a decade for fatal PMV-2 (motorcycle) mishaps. The Army saw 38 Soldiers die in motorcycle mishaps in FY23 — well above the five-year average from FY18-22 of 24 fatalities a year. This is truly significant when it is estimated that only 12-15% of the Army population are motorcycle riders.

It was New Year’s Day and I’d spent the previous night celebrating by downing beers with my buddies. Crawling out of the rack about 8 o’clock the following morning, I planned to hit the road for my girlfriend’s house. I’d gotten about seven hours of sleep, but I was still dragging. I washed down a bite to eat with a glass of water and was out the door.

There is nothing wrong with using a portable generator during an emergency, but it must be used wisely and in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. When used in a confined space, generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide within minutes.