Recreation & Off-Duty Safety Good morning. The 2nd leading killer of SAILORS and Marines is off-duty and recreational mishaps. Off-duty and recreational mishaps are the number one cause of injury and loss work days. Water sports, including swimming and boating, falls and alcohol are the biggest problems, and no wonder: Labor Day Weekend is the last chance for many of us to get to the beach, go fishing and party hearty before summer ends. This brief contains Information that we hope will help you to mitigate some of those risk.

Alcohol Alcohol impairs judgment and affects reflexes Drinking faster than your body can process alcohol causes intoxication-alcohol poisoning. Trouble with the law. Poor performance in school or at work. Fun should not result in death. Some items to consider, think before you act! Practice resisting pressure to drink. Talk with your friends. Find a replacement for peer pressure. Avoid places where people drink to get drunk. Make friends with people who don’t drink. Take part in healthy activities. Use the buddy system

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazards Controls Missing CO alarm Fresh make-up air vent closed, faulty furnace, blocked chimney flue Fuel space heaters Dirty/clogged air filters Return air vent obstructed Install alarm Establish appropriate PM schedule - QA work Disallow use in quarters Change filters quarterly (monthly for pets) Keep furniture away from vents AN AG1 and his four children died from CO poisoning, after he did not report for duty the duty officer went to his home in Navy Family Housing Carbon Monoxide-(CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is produced when a carbon-based fuel - such as gasoline, propane, charcoal, or oil – burns. Sources in your home may include gas fireplaces, cooking ranges, space and water heaters. CO enter your bloodstream through the lungs, Blocking the oxygen your body needs. Prolonged exposure to low concentrations or very quick exposure to high concentrations can kill. Symptoms of CO poisoning include irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. These symptoms are often confused with so Those affected may not receive or seek medical attention.

Ladder Safety Use the right ladder for the job Inspect before use Metal ladder + electricity = death For every 4 ft of the ladder’s length you must come out 1 ft from the wall Here are five easy rules to follow. Choose a ladder that’s long enough so you can work comfortably. Don’t use metal ladders when working around electricity. Repair or replace loose or missing screws, hinges, bolts and nuts. Position a straight ladder at 4 to 1 ratio. That means the base of the ladder is one foot away from the vertical surface for every four feet of ladder length . when use use a ladder to climb onto a roof allow the ladder to extend at least 3 feet beyond the roof edge. Face the ladder and hold on with both hands when climbing up and down. Don’t climb higher than the third rung of a straight ladder. Never reach or lean to far.

Home Maintenance Follow the manufacturer’s safety recommendations Inspect power cords for cuts, frays and damaged plugs Use PPE Don’t use a knife if what you need is a screw driver, if you need a hammer don’t try to use the handle of your screw driver, or the heal of your shoe. Use the proper tool for the job

Barbecuing Safety Well ventilated areas or outdoors Approved lighter fluids, no gasoline Stand upwind when lighting grill For propane grills, Open grill cover before lighting After cooking, shut the propane bottle valve off & let the gas in the lines burn out A trip to the bareque grill could net you more than a tasty meal, particularly when mixing charcoal with gasoline or lighter fluid or when using an improperly vented propane grill. Summertime chefs can reduce the chance of serious injury by adhering to simple safety precautions.

Lightning Kills Stay inside away from windows If outdoors stay away from water metal objects, and under trees When outdoors put your feet together, duck your head, crouch down and put your hands over ears According to the National Safety Council, during the past 37 years, an average of 90 people per year have been struck and killed by lightning. Florida, Texas and North Carolina (areas with large concentrations of Sailors and Marines) consistently rank as the top three states for lightning related deaths. Since lightning can’t be stopped or prevented, you need to know what actions to take during lightning

Swimming Safety Learn how to swim Swim with a friend Swim in areas with life guards Look before you leap No hyperventilating or extended Breath-holding techniques A variety of factors contribute to the typical swimming mishap. Too many people mistakenly consider themselves skilled swimmers. Yet most can only qualify as class III swimmers. Over-estimation of ability is one of the leading causes of drowning and disabling injuries. Know your limits and don’t exceed them. Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or during swimming. Hyper-ventilation and breath-holding are a dangerous combination. Hyper-ventilation lowers the level of CO2, which ordinarily triggers the body to breathe. Victims pass out and drown.

Beware Of Rip Currents If you find yourself caught in a RIP CURRENT, turn and swim PARALLEL to the shore line. Once out of the stronger current turn and swim into shore. If you attempt to swim against the RIP CURRENT, you will most likely succumb to fatigue and probably drown!

SCUBA Diving Safety Get certification Know dive tables Dive with a buddy Two-thirds rule Guidelines for specialized diving Learn hand the signals Certification is a must for recreational self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) divers. Remember open water SCUBA diving certification does not certify you for night diving, deep dives, cave/cavern or shipwreck diving. Only dive with a qualified buddy; never alone. A rule you can live with is: always reserve at least two-thirds of your beginning air for your return trip.

Accidents Preventing Boating Float Plan Keep Clear Of Swimming And Diving Areas Non-Alcoholic Beverages Safety Equipment Take A Safe Boating Course (Call 1-800-368-5647) Monitor Weather Conditions Wear PFDs Load Capacity If there was a post in the middle of the desert someone would hit it. Go figure. The name of this boat is “Temporary Insanity II”. I don’t want to know what happened to the first one ! The overwhelming majority of boat operators who have fatal accidents have never taken a safe boating course. The main causes of these accidents are collision, falling overboard and alcohol. Intoxicated operators cause approximately 50 percent of all serious boating accidents. OPNAVINST 5100.25 Series requires small boat qualification training prior to renting a MWR boat and the wearing of a PFD in boats under 16 feet. It is recommended all boaters follow these guidelines . Take a coast guard approved boating course.

Fall Fishing Can Be Deadly Wear a PFD Keep clothing on Avoid thrashing around If boat capsizes climb back into or on top Most fishing mishaps occur during early spring or late fall when fishing activities are at their peak and when the water is cold. Cold water increases the risk of death from immersion hypothermia. Your body losses heat in cold water approximately 25 times as fast as in cold air. If you fall overboard, keep your clothes on to trap body heat. Wear a pfd so you don’t get exhausted thrashing around in the water.

Personal Watercraft (PWC) Safety Safety training Dead man switch PFD No wave jumping Do not ride in swim areas Do not exceed posted speed limit Observe safety rules Riding a PWC can be exciting. However, it also can turn deadly in a few seconds. Stay out of swimming areas. Do not ride too close to other boats. Glare and the sun can make swimmers and objects such as ski platforms hard to see. Wearing a PFD is mandatory. Do not drink alcoholic beverages before or while operating a PWC.

Prevent Hunting Mishaps Hazards Inexperience Not visible Accidental discharge “In harms way” Falls from stands Controls Hunter’s safety course Wear blaze Orange Separate guns & ammo If In doubt don’t shoot Inspect stands – use harness Sailors and Marines are killed and injured every year with guns they thought were unloaded. Others are shot by hunters who take them for fair game. A hunter safety course can provide the fundamentals of basic firearms safety. Wear blaze orange clothing. When in doubt don’t shoot. Separate your gun and ammunition stored in the home to reduce the chance of children getting hurt. Keep fire arms locked up and out of sight. Check with your state for regulations and laws.

Small Arms Safety Assume firearms are loaded Know your target Small arms safety course Assume firearms are loaded Know your target Separate guns and ammo Navy installations have rules about bring guns on base. They must be registered with the security department within 72 hours after the owner reports aboard. Weapons that must be registered include pistols, crossbows, rifles and shotguns. Lock weapons and ammo separately in different locations. Take a small arms training course. Know your target. Assume all guns are loaded.

Basketball Hazards Controls Poor conditioning Skill level Lack of PPE Violation of rules Slip hazards Controls Warm-up/cool down Play within your ability Appropriate shoes elbow/knee pads mouth piece Remove jewelry/ no horseplay Wipe off moisture Poor conditioning causes many injuries as does inattention to positioning and landing on other players’ feet when rebounding. Proper footwear don’t wear running or tennis shoes and personal protective equipment help reduce injuries. Familiarity and adherence to rules of the game and no unnecessary roughness are essential.

Flag Football Billed caps prohibited Block between shoulders and waist Fumbles can not be advanced Rubber cleats or tennis shoes Most people think that touch and flag football is a ‘safe’ sport because pads and helmets are not required. However, what starts out as a friendly game often turns into a rough game of tackle. What happens when a defensive player tries to grab the offensive player’s flag and is stiff armed in the nose? What do you think the defensive player is going to do the next time the half back comes towards him? The precautions on this slide are meant to help reduce injury from unnecessary roughness. The best precaution is to play by the rules.

Soccer Safety Ensure you stretch adequately Goal posts anchored Wear appropriate shoes Shin guards Drink plenty of water No unsportsmanlike conduct SOCCER IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SPORTS IN THE U.S. UNANCHORED GOAL POSTS HAVE KILLED CHILDREN IN THE PAST. A 8 YEAR OLD GOALIE SUFFERED A CRUSHED FEMUR, HOSPITALIZED FOR 6 WEEKS , DISABLED FOR 4 MONTHS WHEN HE TRIED TO STOP A WIND BLOWNED UNANCHORED GOAL. THE CLINICAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE SAYS UPTO 70% OF IMPACT OF A KICK TO THE LEG IS REDUCED BY THE USE OF SHINGUARDS. SHIGUARDS ARE REQUIRED IAW FIFA LAWS OF THE GAME GUIDE FOR REFEREES U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION.

Racquetball Safety Wear eye protectors with lenses made of polycarbonate Ensure playing surface isn’t slippery Racquet sports require excellent eye and hand coordination. Most racquet injuries occur from players using lensless eye protectors or no protection at all. A racquetball can travel in excess of 80 mph when hit and compresses into a sphere. If it hits a lensless goggle, it can penetrate the opening and strike the eye. The hard rubber of a handball can also easily injure an eye. A 3rd Class Operations Specialist complained her issued eye protection kept falling off of her head. She took them off and shortly afterwards was struck in the eye by the racquetball. The 3rd Class had internal bleeding in her eye.

Store weights after use Weight Lifting Warm-up Spotter if possible Collars Always use proper Form when lifting Store weights after use PUMPING IRON WHEN USING IMPROPER TECHNIQUES CAN RESULT IN STRAINED MUSCLES AND TORN LIGAMENTS. LIFTING HEAVY METAL IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT LEARNING THE HARD WAY. ADHERE TO THE BASICS: IF NEW TO A PARTICULAR EXERCISE ASK A TRAINER TO SHOW YOU THE PROPER TECHNIQUE. WHEN LIFTING FREE WEIGHTS OVER YOUR HEAD OR WHILE BENCHING BE SURE TO HAVE A SPOTTER. CHECK FOR COLLAR DEVICES TO HOLD THE WEIGHTS. DON’T USE EQUIPMENT WITH FRAYED CABLES OR QUESTIONABLE LATCHING HARDWARE.

Busted On Base Ride with traffic Walkman radios prohibited Reflective clothing during night, rain or snow Inattention to obstacles , losing control because of excessive speed, alcohol, maneuvering to avoid other vehicles or pedestrians lead the way to bicycling mishaps. Use of approved Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or Snell Memorial Foundation bicycle helmets is mandatory when riding on DoN installations. Helmets are also recommended off base. Portable headphones or other listening devices are prohibited while riding on DoN streets. Reflective light colored clothing is also required on base.

Jogging Safety Reflective gear No listening devices Jog against traffic Drink plenty of fluids Know your personal limitations OPNAVINST 5100.25 Series requires joggers to wear light colored clothing and reflective clothing during reduced visibility while on navy property. OPNAVINST 5100.12H prohibits the wearing of portable listening devices while jogging on Navy streets and roads . Allow 10 to 15 minutes minutes for warm-ups before and after your jog. Drink plenty of fluids. Running outdoors when the sum of the air temperature and humidity reaches 150 can be hazardous to your health. Schedule your running during the coolest part of the day or exercise indoors.

Camping Safety CHECK WEATHER FORECASTS BEFORE YOU LEAVE WATER-REPELLANT AND WIND-RESISTANT MATERIAL FOR TENTS AND SLEEPING BAGS WEAR PROPER FITTING LAYER CLOTHING, BOOTS & CAP INSECT REPELLANT AND MOSQUITO NETTING COOLER FOR PERISHABLE FOODS NO COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS WITHIN 10 FEET OF CAMPFIRE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS AVOID POISONOUS SNAKES AND PLANTS IMPLEMENT YOUR LIGHTNING PLAN ORM YOUR CAMP SITE CAMPING EXPEDITIONS CAN BE GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND FUN. MOST OF YOU CAMP IN FORESTS, ON MOUNTAINS -OR BY STREAMS SO YOU CAN HIKE, CLIMB AND SWIM. AS MUCH FUN AS THESE ARE THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT WITHOUT HAZARDS. IF YOU’RE NOT DRESSED FOR COLD, YOU CAN GET HYPOTHERMIA. IF IT TOO HOT, YOU CAN GET HEAT STROKE. FLASH FLOODS CAN SWELL STREAMS AND STRAND YOU. POISONOUS SNAKES AND PLANTS CAN KILL YOU AND CHIGGERS AND TICKS CAN MAKE YOU ITCH AND MAKE YOU WISH YOU HAD STAYED HOME.

Brown Recluse Spider Midwest and Southern States 1/4 to 3/4 inches in length (dime to quarter size) Tan to dark brown in color “Violin/Fiddle” marking Lives indoors or outdoors Severity of bite may vary Seek medical attention Bite causes severe tissue damage The brown recluse spider is found primarily in Midwestern and Southern states of the U.S. It lives indoors or outdoors and roams at night seeking its prey. Size ranges from ¼ to ¾ inches long; dime to quarter size. Color ranges from tan to dark brown. The feature that distinguishes the brown recluse from other spiders is a violin-shaped marking. People are often bitten while putting on a shoe or piece of clothing a spider has selected for a hiding place. If bitten seek medical attention. The severity of the bite may vary with symptoms ranging from no harm to severe. If possible, kill and take the spider for identification. To control spider populations: routinely clean your home; reduce clutter in closets, basements, garages and attics; remove debris away from the foundation of your home; Install tight fitting window screens; apply insecticides around the base of the foundation as a “barrier treatment”.

Rock Climbing Safety Get training Use buddy system Check weather conditions Wear a helmet Use proper safety equipment Climbing can be hazardous. Some Sailors and Marines have been killed while rock climbing. The vast majority of climbing deaths are attributable to inexperience and carelessness, not failed equipment. A safe climber is one who acquires the knowledge to master the sport by participating in training classes and climbs with appropriate equipment and an experienced buddy.

Off-Road Driving Safety Required training PPE Familiar with equipment Stay on designated trails No alcohol Know your abilities and those of your bike Ride within your limits Off road vehicles include motorcycles, dirt bikes, all terrain vehicles, go-carts, jeeps, trucks and snowmobiles. The majority of the mishaps involved ATVs and dirt bikes used off-roads use of helmets is required for all Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Take the required training For the machine you ride. Protect and preserve the environment as you ride. Never ride if you have been drinking alcohol.

5 Step Process 1. Identify hazards 5. Supervise 2. Assess hazards This is the Naval Safety Center’s 5 step approach to control risks. The five steps can be remember by visualizing a star. It has five points or another way is to look at your five fingers. Each one of them is important. These steps provide a means to identify what can go wrong, how to prevent it from going wrong, and how to minimize the extent of damage and injury if it goes wrong. This approach can be used for all types of risk considerations. 4. Implement controls 3. Make risk decisions