Risk Management Magazine

Military training in the heat impairs physical performance and can lead to the development of heat-related illnesses, which impact over 2,500 uniformed personnel each year. Heat illnesses range in severity from heat exhaustion (least severe) to exertional heat stroke (EHS) (most severe).

Ask anyone who regularly pulls a trailer and they will have at least one story about it coming off its hitch, pushing them through a busy intersection, losing its brakes or suddenly getting blown into another lane of traffic. Most of these stories have a humorous side and an uneventful ending. For inexperienced drivers, however, some of these events end in disaster.

On one of our rides, we decided to enjoy the majestic beauty of God’s creation by cruising to the Crazy Horse Memorial and then down to Custer State Park. Traffic in our direction was pretty light that morning and only slightly busier in the oncoming northbound lanes. We were enjoying the ride — but that was about to dramatically change.