Photo By Bill Coppernoll | Members of the installation Safety and Occupational Health Advisory Council tour the...... read more read more
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The Safety and Occupational Health Advisory Council met Oct. 2 in building 905 to discuss potential safety issues affecting the Fort McCoy community.
Halloween, fall hunting, and the upcoming winter were the primary safety topics under discussion. The Installation Safety Office (ISO) highlighted the importance of staying safe during Halloween festivities. (See related article, https://www.dvidshub.net/news/295244/celebrate-halloween-safely-many-events-planned-fort-mccoy.)
Deer season will be starting soon, both for hunting and possible deer/vehicle collisions. ISO Manager Randy Eddy spoke about how to avoid accidents while deer are more active than usual.
“Between the months of October and January, the deer are on the run,” Eddy said. It’s especially common to see deer around dawn and from dusk until late evening, when visibility is low.
Deer are pack animals and tend to travel in groups, so watch out for additional animals. “If you see one, expect you’re going to see another one,” Eddy said.
Use high beams to help visibility at night, though remember to turn them off when other vehicles approach. If a deer runs in front of a vehicle, brake firmly to try to stop but don’t swerve to avoid the deer.
“The majority of fatalities are people who drive into the other lane and get hit by another car or they drive off the road into a telephone pole or tree,” Eddy said. More than 18,000 deer-related accidents are reported each year in Wisconsin.
Hunting safety is another important topic during the fall, Eddy said. Following hunting rules and suggestions can help get a hunter back home safely.
Treat every firearm as though it’s loaded, and always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Be sure of a target: know what’s in front of and behind the deer or other prey. Also know where any hunting companions are, whether human or animal, to avoid injury.
It’s also important to make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you should be back, Eddy said. On Fort McCoy, hunters have to visit iSportsman to see which areas are open and check in to where they’ll be hunting. While family members are often the first to notice if someone doesn’t return in time, Directorate of Emergency Services personnel can also check to see if someone didn’t check out of the system and therefore might need help.
Hunters at Fort McCoy must also have the proper permits and register their firearms. For more information, visit https://ftmccoy.isportsman.net/.
As the weather cools down, it’s important to look ahead and prepare for upcoming snow and ice.
“Now is the time of year to get your vehicle ready for winter,” Eddy said.
Check every vehicle’s battery, antifreeze, heater, and defroster. Switch out windshield washer fluid for a variety that won’t freeze. Every vehicle should also have a cold-weather kit in the backseat or trunk in case it gets stuck on snowy or icy roads.
Vehicle kits should include a winter hat and gloves, reflectors, a flashlight with extra batteries, and a blanket. It’s also helpful to have food (such as granola bars) and water. Vehicles should also keep some sort of abrasive material, such as sand, gravel, or traction mats, and a small shovel to help drivers get them out of snow or ice.
“I carry a kid’s plastic shovel in mine,” Eddy said. “I’ve had to use it before, and it works really well.”
The meeting also included a visit to Fort McCoy’s Wastewater Treatment Facility to review potential safety issues and the precautions taken to prevent problems.
The council meets quarterly to discuss safety issues that could potentially affect the Fort McCoy community. It also provides garrison staff and tenants a chance to inform leadership of any safety concerns they have.
| Date Taken: | 10.05.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.05.2018 12:01 |
| Story ID: | 295543 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hunting safety, winter prep are focus of fall safety council at Fort McCoy, by Aimee Malone, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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