Winds of change

  • Published
  • By Allan Woods
  • 75th Air Base Wing Safety
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The winds of seasonal change are blowing in our direction. The weather is getting cooler, leaves are changing, and soon they will be piling up everywhere. Leaves in the road can be a major hazard for vehicles, especially motorcycles and bicycles. A small pile of leaves can substantially reduce traction capability, much like ice, and send you out of control without notice. It is also important to be mindful of what type of hazard may be lying under an innocent looking pile of leaves. There may be things such as a pile of rocks, sand or debris that may force you to lose traction or suddenly change direction. If a simple pile of leaves is treated like a serious road hazard and avoided, it will improve your chances of arriving at your destination safely.

During this time of year, you will start seeing roadways appearing shiny or wet, especially during hours of darkness. You need to recognize this as frost forming on the roadway. Frost can cause an extremely hazardous condition for vehicles. A light film of frost can make a vehicle react the same as a solid sheet of ice. The best practice is to slow down and drive carefully during these conditions.

Another anticipated part of fall is hunting season. Many will head into the hills to enjoy the hunt, which they have been waiting for all year. Now is the time to take your weapon of choice out of storage and clean and oil it before you attempt to shoot it. If you haven’t been to the shooting range to ensure your weapon is sighted in and operating properly, you should take the time to practice before you attempt to fire the weapon during the hunt. Don’t miss out on your harvest because you failed to take care of your equipment.

You also need to be in good physical condition to be able to not only navigate the mountainous terrain, but more importantly to be able to drag the animal you harvested back to camp. Now is the time to start exercising your muscles and heart. To prepare for the strenuous activity hunting requires, take advantage of all the great exercise equipment available at the Warrior and Hess Fitness Centers. The air is always thinner at higher elevations and you need to make sure your body is ready to be put to the test.

It is also very important to make time to set up your camping gear, which has been in storage since last year, along with any other items you will be depending on to survive Utah’s mountainous terrain. This includes your trailer, tent, boat, fishing gear, ATV and any other equipment items needing to be in top shape to enhance your time in the remote back woods. Remember, if you happen to get caught in a heavy storm with Utah’s unpredictable weather patterns, you may be forced to spend a few extra days living in a very stormy situation. This is when you definitely want to know all of your gear is working properly and that you have plenty of food and water. These things could save you and your loved ones’ lives!

I have found from personal experience that it is a great idea to make a list of all the items you will need to take with you and use it as a checklist while you are packing for the trip. You will find that each time you use the checklist, that necessary items you forgot on the last trip will be added.

Be safe out there while enjoying fall activities.