Critical Days of Summer week nine – sports and recreational safety

  • Published
  • By Neil Townley
  • 17th Training Wing Safety Office
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Goodfellow loses more than $15,000 and countless hours of productivity each month due to sports and recreational mishaps that require treatment beyond first aid. Even though there are many S/R mishaps that require less treatment, they still hamper our mission.

S/R mishaps tend to be less severe than other mishap categories, but they happen more frequently and prevent us from doing our jobs as efficiently as we could. Take a look at the following typical S/R mishaps and ask "What can we do to prevent this from happening again."

· A participant was playing first base for his squadron intramural softball team. A fly ball went over his head and as he ran to catch it, he stepped into a ground squirrel hole causing his right ankle to roll. He was able to finish the game, however, that night the swelling and pain got worse despite icing the injury. He visited the local emergency room where he was diagnosed with a sprained ankle. After a follow up with the base clinic, he was placed on quarters for a day.

· A member was part of a semi-professional tackle football team in the local area. One night during practice, the coach instructed the players not to wear pads or helmets because it was going to be a non-contact practice. One team member said all other practices were conducted in full pads and helmets.

During practice, a player was running through the offensive line and fumbled the ball. Another team member instinctively dove for the ball and hit his head on the hip of the runner. He was transported to a local medical facility, diagnosed with a concussion and held overnight for observation. He was also placed on quarters for three days.

· A member ran into a parked car while was driving his all-terrain vehicle without any personal protective equipment on. Earlier that night, he and three friends met at a local tavern and stayed until closing. One of his friends suggested they all return to the member's home and continue the party. At 2:30 a.m. the member decided to get out his ATV for a ride. One of his friends told him not to and put the ATV away. Ignoring his friend, the member took off down the street. About 15 minutes later, one of his friends went to look for him and noticed the ATV's lights in a yard about a block and a half away. The friend found the member lying under a parked car after being thrown from the ATV. The friend checked the driver, noted he was still breathing and then called 911. The member suffered a fractured skull and is now partially disabled for the rest of his life.

It's wrong to think that accidents can't be prevented. They happen because we let them happen. Even the ones that seem difficult to prevent can still be prevented. It's commonly accepted that 98 percent of all mishaps are preventable in some way, shape or form. The mishaps mentioned here are no exception. Poor communication, decision making, maintenance and aggressive play are some of the common factors in S/R mishaps. If we continue to foster a mindset, attitude and culture that accepts minor mishaps as a part of doing business, then we will continue to have severe mishaps and make excuses for them. The Wing Safety Office challenges everyone to think beforehand so a mishap doesn't occur.