R 141430Z MAY 02 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS  //N05000//
ALMAR 029/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/APRIL 2002 SAFETY SUMMARY//
RMKS/1.  DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2002, 8 MARINES DIED IN ON AND
OFF DUTY MISHAPS, AND 17 MARINES SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.  THE
FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF OUR CASUALTIES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2002:
A.  FATALITIES
ON DUTY FATALITIES:
1.  LCPL FROM VMA 311 WAS WORKING ON THE FLIGHT LINE, WENT INSIDE THE
HANGAR TO TAKE A BREAK, AND WAS LATER DISCOVERED BY CO-WORKERS
UNCONSCIOUS.  PARAMEDICS WERE CALLED, BUT WERE UNABLE TO REVIVE SNM.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH IS UNKNOWN.
2.  SGT FROM RS SAN DIEGO, CA WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE GOV ACCIDENT.
PRELIMINARY REPORTS INDICATE THAT SNM LOST CONTROL OF THE GOV.  SNM
SUBSEQUENTLY DIED OF MULTIPLE HEAD TRAUMA.  SEATBELTS WERE WORN.
OFF DUTY FATALITIES:
1.  THREE PFCS FROM COMM SCHOOL (STUDENTS) WERE INVOLVED IN A SINGLE
POV CRASH ENROUTE FROM LAS VEGAS TO 29 PALMS.  THEIR POV WAS
TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN IT HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD, RAN
OFF THE ROAD, AND FLIPPED OVER.  ONE PFC WAS EJECTED FROM THE POV AND
DIED ENROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL.  ANOTHER PFC WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE
AND DIED ON THE SCENE.  THE LAST PFC WAS GROUND MEDEVAC'D TO THE
HOSPITAL AND HIS CONDITION IS SERIOUS.  SEATBELTS WERE WORN BY DRIVER
AND FRONT PASSENGER, BUT NOT BY THE REAR PASSENGER WHO WAS EJECTED.
2.  LCPL FROM 2DBN, 7TH MAR WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT
NEAR 29 PALMS.  SNM SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID CONSTRUCTION,
CAUSING HIS VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES.  SNM WAS EJECTED FROM
THE VEHICLE AND KILLED.   SEATBELT NOT WORN.
3.  LCPL FROM 1ST RADIO BN, MCB KANEOHE BAY, HI DIED IN A FIRE THAT
BROKE OUT IN A MOTEL WHERE THE MARINE WAS STAYING FOR THE EVENING.
4.  LCPL FROM CSSG-1, 1ST FSSG, 29 PALMS CA WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE
VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN HIS DEATH.  SNM WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH
RATE OF SPEED AND DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD.  SNM OVER-CORRECTED CAUSING
THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AN UNDETERMINED NUMBER OF TIMES.
5.  CAPT FROM VMFA-224, BEAUFORT, SC WAS STOPPED AT A CONSTRUCTION
SITE BY CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL.  HIS VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK
FROM THE REAR BY A DRUNK DRIVER, AND HE LATER DIED FROM HIS INJURIES.
SEATBELT WAS WORN.
SUICIDES:  NONE.
B.  REPRESENTATIVE INJURIES
ON DUTY GROUND INJURIES:
1.  PFC (USMCR) FROM SECURITY DET, HQSVCCO, MARFORLANT SUFFERED
INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT LOWER LEG FROM THE DISCHARGE OF A 9MM SERVICE
PISTOL WHILE STANDING GUARD AT CAMP ALLEN.
2.  PFC FROM 1ST BN, 8TH MAR, 2D MARDIV, SUFFERED PARTIAL LOSS OF HIS
RIGHT THUMB DURING A 60MM MORTAR LIVE-FIRE INCIDENT.  AFTER DROPPING
A MORTAR ROUND INTO THE TUBE, SNM DID NOT REMOVE HIS HAND QUICKLY
ENOUGH BEFORE THE PROJECTILE LAUNCHED.
3.  PFC FROM MARCORDET CORRY STATION WAS STRUCK IN THE TORSO DURING
USMC MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING, RESULTING IN A RUPTURED SPLEEN.  SNM IS
CURRENTLY IN GOOD CONDITION ON 30 DAYS CONVALESCENT LEAVE.
4.  SGT FROM MWSS-272, MWSG-27, MCAS NEW RIVER, NC FELL OUT OF THE
BACK OF A SLOW MOVING HMMWV, STRIKING HIS HEAD ON THE RUNWAY.  SNM
SUFFERED A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AND IS LISTED IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE
CONDITION.
OFF DUTY GROUND INJURIES:
1.  LCPL FROM NAVAL ACADEMY SECURITY CO, MB 8TH&I WAS THROWN FROM AN
ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) AND HIT SOME TREES.  SNM SUFFERED A
FRACTURED SKULL.  HIS CONDITION IS CRITICAL, PROGNOSIS IS UNKNOWN.
2.  SGT FROM H&HS MCAS MIRAMAR, CA UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
ATTEMPTED TO JUMP OVER A BONFIRE.  HE DIDN'T MAKE IT.  SNM RECEIVED
SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO OVER 20 PERCENT OF HIS BODY.
3.  SGT FROM MALS 26, 2D MAW WAS RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE WHEN HE WAS
BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.  SNM SUFFERED MULTIPLE TRAUMATIC
INJURIES, INCLUDING A BROKEN HIP.  HE IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION.
4.  LCPL FROM H&S BN, CAMP SMITH, HI WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE
WHILE DRIVING.  SNM IS UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR A POSSIBLE BROKEN
FEMUR.  SEATBELT WAS WORN.
5.  FOUR CPLS FROM 24TH MAR AND 8TH COMM WERE INVOLVED IN AN SUV
SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT.  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE SUV
ROLLED.  THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SHATTERED ELBOW AND CHEST TRAUMA.
HE IS LISTED IN STABLE BUT GUARDED CONDITION.  THE THREE OTHER
MARINES IN THE VEHICLE WERE RELEASED AT THE SCENE WITH NO INJURIES.
ALL PERSONNEL IN THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS.
6.  LCPL FROM 2D MAINTBN, 2D FSSG, MCB CAMP LEJEUNE, NC WAS ON A
TEST RUN WITH A DIRT BIKE FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE, WITHOUT A HELMET OR
SAFETY VEST.  THE BIKE CHAIN LOCKED UP AND SNM WAS THROWN OFF.
SNM SUFFERED LACERATIONS, SKULL FRACTURE, INTERNAL BLEEDING AROUND
THE BRAIN, AND VARIOUS SCRAPES AND BRUISES.
C.  AVIATION:  NONE.
2.  MIXED NEWS:
A.  LAST FY THIS TIME, 35 MARINES HAD DIED IN ON AND OFF DUTY GROUND
MISHAPS AND ANOTHER SIX DIED IN AVIATION MISHAPS.  FIFTY THREE MARINE
MARINES HAVE DIED YEAR TO DATE IN ON DUTY GROUND AND OFF DUTY
MISHAPS, AND ANOTHER 14 HAVE DIED IN AVIATION MISHAPS.
B.  THE MONTH OF APRIL PROVIDED SOME POSITIVE SIGNS OF INCREASED
SAFETY AWARENESS.  A NUMBER OF PMV MISHAPS WHICH HAD THE POTENTIAL TO
RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH PRODUCED ONLY MINOR INJURIES, OR
MARINES WALKING AWAY INJURY FREE BECAUSE THEY WORE THEIR SEATBELTS.
A LCPL WHO FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND SMASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL WAS
ABLE TO COMMMUNICATE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER CO BECAUSE SHE SURVIVED THE
CRASH THANKS TO HER SEATBELT.  SHE SUFFERED ONLY MINOR CUTS, BRUISES,
AND LACERATIONS.  SEATBEATS SAVE LIVES!  IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.  SO
BUCKLE UP, AND DON'T FORGET TO LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS AS WELL.
3.  THE OFFICIAL VERSION OF THE COMPUTERIZED GROUND MISHAP TRACKING
LOG 'MARTRAK' IS PENDING RELEASE.  ONCE APPROVED, IT WILL BE POSTED
ON THE NAVAL SAFETY CENTER WEB SITE.  IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT BY
1 OCTOBER, AN ONLINE VERSION WILL BE IN PLACE AND IN USE MARINE CORPS
WIDE. THE ON LINE VERSION WILL GREATLY SIMPLIFY BOTH REPORTING AND
RECORD KEEPING.  ADDITIONALLY, IT WILL ALLOW THE USER TO PERFORM
STATISTICAL QUERRIES OF THEIR OWN UNITS.  THIS FUNCTION WILL ALLOW
COMMANDS TO EASILY DETERMINE TRENDS AND FOCUS SAFETY TRAINING ON
THEM.  MORE INFORMATION ON MARTRAK TO COME IN THE FUTURE.
4.  COMMANDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES HAVE READ THIS ALMAR.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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