Falling this fall? It’s time to prepare for seasonal hazards

Published Oct. 3, 2014
By Jenny Merveldt
72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE - Okla. -- The 2014 fall (autumn) season is here. Are you prepared for the hazards -- such as the drastic temperature changes -- that can lead to multiple hazards associated with the season?

One of the first things that usually comes to mind when thinking about the beauty of fall is the leaves falling off their trees. Did you know leaves can be a potential hazard for motorcyclists and even vehicles?

When leaves fall on the road and night dew or rain accumulates on them, travel and braking become a bit more hazardous by the roads being slicker than normal. One of the worst things with this scenario is that most civilian motorcyclists do not wear helmets off base.

According to some bad news gleaned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motorcycle crashes killed 4,502 people in 2010. The good news is that riders and passengers can protect themselves by wearing Department of Transportation-approved helmets. Properly fitted and worn helmets are estimated to prevent 37 percent of crash deaths among motorcycle riders and 41 percent of crash deaths for motorcycle passengers.

A second hazard of fall presents itself in the sport of hunting. Hunters must remember to exercise extreme caution, being aware of their surroundings and of other hunters, both near and distant. Be sure to wear the appropriate amount of bright orange (preferably) to make others aware you are there (see and be seen). Also, be knowledgeable or familiar with the safe handling and proper function of your weapon of choice. In fact, there is a bit of good news from the International Hunter Education Association: Hunting accidents have drastically decreased over the years. But, constant vigilance is needed to ensure these numbers remain on a downward spiral.
Elevated tree stands are another hazard hunters face. According to the IHEA, 1 in 3 hunters who use tree stands will fall at some point during their hunting career. As someone who wants to stay alive and injury-free, you must ensure that proper precautions are always taken when getting in and out or climbing up and down from a stand.

A third hazard of autumn comes from errant wild animals, especially deer. If you are not a "projectile with weapons" hunter, be careful not to "hunt" these animals with your cars. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are nearly 1 million car accidents with deer each year that kill approximately 200 Americans,
cause more than 10,000 personal injuries, and result in $1 billion in vehicle damage.

That is a lot of road mayhem!

Home fires are the fourth autumn hazard to be aware of. One word of caution, "Be prepared for fires. Expect the unexpected." Fires, especially home fires, are as devastating as they are extremely dangerous. When the temperatures drop, the chance of a home fire increases. Chimneys and home heating systems that haven't been used in many months are suddenly asked to perform their functions. The owners of many of these heating units fail to employ a properly certified and qualified technician to conduct a thorough system functionality check before the cold weather arrives.

Dangerous space heaters are another hazard. Space heaters can be a quick way to heat up a room. However, they can be as dangerous as they are convenient if used improperly. Space heaters are the root cause of approximately 25,000 home fires a year and 6,000 emergency room visits, according to the Harvard University Environmental Health and Safety Group. Exercise extreme caution if you must use these deadly contraptions.

And remember: Space heaters are illegal in the Tinker workplace, unless granted very temporary permission under extreme circumstances.

Here are three methods of ensuring you are prepared for fires:

· Keep your smoke detectors supplied with fresh batteries.
· Ensure there are adequately sized fire extinguishers handy around the home, not forgetting a Class "K" for the kitchen.
· Make sure you have an evacuation plan along with an outdoor gathering point for you and your family.

With autumn here, and with an increase of different types of seasonal hazards, know your risk. Remember to exercise due caution for not only yourself, but others as well.
As a final word of caution, Accidents never take a rest and make sure you don't let your guard "fall" this fall -- stay safe and alive!

(Editor's note: The author, Jenny Merveldt is a UCO student working on her Safety degree. This article is part of her internship at the base safety office.)