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Sleep-related injuries in the U.S. Army, 1984-1991
C A Salter1, J S Crowley, L W Allan
1Biomedical Applications Research Division, U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, AL 36362.
Military Medicine
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Ground accidents involving sleeping soldiers resulted in 68 incidents, including 53 injuries and 15 fatalities. Most accidents occurred near vehicles, highlighting a need for improved safety guidance and training to reduce these preventable events.
Area of Science:
- Military safety research
- Accident prevention analysis
- Occupational health and safety
Background:
- Review of U.S. Army Safety Center files from 1984-1991.
- Focus on ground accidents involving soldiers during sleep.
- Identification of incident patterns and consequences.
Observation:
- 68 ground accidents involving sleeping soldiers were identified.
- 53 incidents resulted in injuries, and 15 led to fatalities.
- Accidents were most frequent when soldiers slept near vehicles.
Findings:
- Average cost per injury was $8,300 (1991 dollars).
- Average cost per fatality was $61,900 (1991 dollars).
- Injured soldiers required an average of 24.6 days of lost duty time.
Implications:
- Accidents are more common in non-designated "safe" areas, particularly near vehicles.
- Improved safety guidance and enhanced training can significantly reduce these incidents.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing environmental factors in military sleep safety.