Cumbria ACF - Force Protection Newsletter Summer 2013 | Page 2

After what has seemed like a very long winter we now find ourselves occasionally enjoying the feeling the sun on our faces.

With Annual Camp rapidly approaching, so too are the sunnier days and warmer temperatures. These come with different risks especially when undertaking strenuous physical exercise and spending long periods in the sun whilst working.

“ JSP 539 Climatic Illness & Injuries in the Armed Forces: Force Protection and Initial Medical Treatment, Version 2.1 was published in Nov 12 and provides some excellent guidance to Commanders in managing heat related injuries. This article seeks to commend this publication and introduce a number of key points. However, the JSP does need to be understood as a whole.

Commanders Heat Illness Risk Assessment Checklist

The Commanders Heat Illness Risk Assessment Checklist( JSP 539, Chap 2, Annex A, Appendix 1) is an easily understood checklist with prompts for nine risk factors to include as part of the risk assessment. The checklist format enables Commanders to record their review of these factors.

We need to risk assess all of our work activities. It is therefore suggested that the Commanders’ Checklist provides an excellent aide memoire to support the completion of JSP 375 leaflet 39 risk assessment.( Mod Form 5010a)

Personal Risk Factors

Oceans, rivers and waterways form vital components for developed civilisations. Many population centres are located on rivers and coasts, both of which act as obstacles and lines of communication. It is easy to see how our ACF training operations are likely to be influenced by the freedoms and limitations imposed by water, and hence why it is important to train in, on or around our waterways.

Unfortunately, water( particularly when using boats and crafts) also presents a hazardous environment, which can lead to any number of incidents ranging from drowning, hypothermia and exposure, through to sunburn, infection and diseases.

Before conducting any activities involving waterman ship, it is imperative that appropriately trained and experienced personnel are involved with the planning and conduct of the activity. They will ensure that the activity is conducted in a safe manner and that the equipment used is appropriate, serviceable and available for use.

The 10“ memory joggers” below will ensure that the challenging and rewarding nature of conducting water based training can also be safe:

We have a responsibility to ourselves as well as to those for whom we have a management or supervisory responsibility. As such, the 12 personal risk factors in JSP 539 are useful points when considering the risk of those under our supervision, but equally importantly, when assessing and managing ourselves:

Being overweight Lack of physical fitness Lack of sleep Smoking( not ex smokers) Alcohol intake within the last 48 hrs Mild illness – Diarrhoea, common cold & fever Dehydration Medication or illegal drugs Poor nutritional intake Air travel within the last 48 hrs Un-acclimatised personnel Evidence of previous heat illness Some of these risk factors may be unavoidable in certain training scenarios, however there is no excuse for the lack of physical fitness, significant alcohol intake before a planned event with cadets or the use of illegal drugs. We also need to be attentive to personal factors throughout any physical activity e. g. water intake( not too much or too little), nutritional needs and mild illness.