Risk Management Magazine

It was late November in southern Mississippi. The weather throughout the week had been cool with scattered showers — conditions just right for a great weekend of deer hunting.

The Army has rules and regulations in place regarding space heater usage to keep Soldiers from accidentally setting their tents ablaze. What Soldiers should know, however, is many of these guidelines also apply to using portable heating devices in their homes.

This incident could have had serious and/or catastrophic results if it had happened in flight. It was a stark reminder of how important it is to always use and follow all checklists.