Safety first: Winter’s not over yet

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The first day of spring has officially come and gone but the weather may seem to be lagging behind the power curve. With cold mornings and warm afternoons, road conditions can vary from perfectly fine to somewhat dangerous within a matter of hours, making a simple drive to work a potentially risky venture.

While commuting is a big part of people's everyday lives, many other things play a part in keeping us on track with our daily routine, and many things can pose a potential threat given the right circumstances.

The 341st Missile Wing Safety Office at Malmstrom Air Force Base works around the clock to keep people informed of possible risky situations. Not everything can be avoided, but good information can help prevent a possible disaster.

"Although the calendar has turned to spring, Montana usually takes a while longer to catch up," said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Sutliff, 341st MW ground safety NCO in charge. "You can go outside and realize winter still has a firm grip. Great Falls averages over a foot of snow between March and May, with March being the snowiest month of the year. This is due to the slightly warmer weather, which brings more moisture during the winter months. It's not a stretch to see snow as late as May, where Great Falls averages about an inch.

"For the year, we are more than 20 inches of snow above seasonal average; so don't expect any sudden changes," he continued. "The wintery weather we all know can play havoc with getting around. Everyone still needs to be careful with slips and falls."

According to the safety office, most injuries during the winter and early spring seasons are sprained ankles, bumps and bruises. For vehicular travel, sudden changes in temperature cause wet roads to freeze quickly and contribute to a spike in vehicle accidents.

"Although it's almost April, drivers still need to be leery of the road conditions and practice winter driving techniques," Sutliff said. "These are simple and include slowing down, increasing your distance between other cars and increasing your braking distance to prevent slides. Leaving earlier than normal to ensure adequate time for safe travel also helps."

With the last couple weeks of cold weather still here, being safe while enjoying outdoor winter activities is still important.

This year alone, Team Malmstrom has suffered 12 mishaps due to ski and snowboard accidents. The majority of injuries were concussions, with members not always wearing helmets.

"We want people to be prepared for the sport," Sutliff said. "To help prevent injuries, be sure to know your limits, both stamina and exercise wise. Also, be sure to stretch before activity and take time to warm up; it will help prevent strains and sprains. We want everyone to enjoy the winter and early spring months, but we also want everyone to be safe while doing so. Take the time to think about what you might run into and prepare for what you're doing, but most of all, have fun."