Page 13 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, July 2019

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High Desert Warrior 13 July 5, 2019
News
Splash into Safety: Swimming tips during pool and open water season
Story and Photo by Casey Slusser
Contributor
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Summer is heating up fast and with the triple-digit temperatures comes more time for swim- ming pools, beaches, lakes, and rivers. Unfortunately, this also makes it one of the most hazardous times of year for drownings, especially for young children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day, about ten people die from an unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children ages 14 years old or younger. Drowning also ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury deaths in the United States.”
Fort Irwin is the home to a Community Pool, Splash Park and Oasis indoor pool (also known as the Troop Pool).
Although it’s water season, before you head out there with the family, there are some things The Villages Community Center says swimmers should think about. Firstly, the Fort Irwin Com- munity Pool is not under lifeguard supervision. Patrons swim at their own risk. Also, children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times. A 9-1-1 telephone is located on the premises for emergency use and there is a Villages attendant at the pool, although they are present to enforce the rules, not for a focus on safety. One family talked about their experiences at the Community Pool.
“We feel safe, even without a lifeguard on duty,” Staff Sgt. Pricilla Hall said. “The pool is pretty shallow, and my kids can swim, and they don’t go in (the pool) without a parent.”
Dax Hall is Staff Sgt. Hall’s seven-year-old son and he said he enjoys playing water games. “I like swimming under water, and diving for torpedoes (dive sticks),” Dax said. However, his eight-year-old sister, Madeline Hall, prefers to perfect her hand stand and back-flipping skills in the pool.
Some swimming tips from the American Red Cross (for any bodies of water) include designating a water watcher and staying in arm’s reach of young children.
“Preventable injuries are the number one killer of children in the United States,” Kim Garcia from Post Safety said. “Through- out the world, almost one million children die of an injury each year and almost every one of these tragedies are preventable.”
Garcia said it’s imperative kids know the difference between swimming in a pool and open water. It’s also important to teach kids about open water, currents, and undertows. Knowing basic lifesaving skills and CPR is a plus.
Madeline Olivia Hall and Dax Corbin Hall swimming in the Sandy Basin Community Pool at Fort Irwin.
“Families can look forward to swim lessons for their young ones come August,” Matthew Livingston, Chief of Sports Fitness and Aquatics said. “Parents can watch for classes to be posted at Parent Central after PCS (permanent change of station) season.”
For more information regarding water safety, or CPR classes, please visit RedCross.org or Safekids.org
Hard Facts about Swimming Safety (SafeKids.org)
• Among preventable injuries, drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 – 4 years old
• Children 5 years and older are more likely to drown in natural water, such as ponds, lakes and rivers.
• The risk of drowning in open water increases with age: the average 10-year- old, for example, is three times more likely to drown in open water than in a pool
Fort Irwin Extended Temporary Living Expenses (TLE) Policy is in effect
Garrison Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Active-duty service members headed to Fort Irwin can now receive extended temporary living expenses (TLE), which is defined as more than 10 days of TLE. TLE is a monetary allowance used to assist service members for lodging and meal expenses, while in temporary lodging during a permanent change of station (PCS) move.
The extension applies to uniformed soldiers and their families who are inbound to Fort Irwin with PCS orders. The effective dates for extended TLE began June 1, 2019 and run
through August 2019. At all other times, TLE will be paid as specified in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR).
A total of 60 days TLE can be authorized when reporting to Fort Irwin as a Permanent Duty Station (PDS). TLE is only authorized in the vicinity of the old or new PDS. These 60 days may be divided between the old and new PDS, however extended TLE past the first 10 days is only permitted after arrival to Fort Irwin.
Service members are required to begin the extended TLE process at the Garrison Housing Office, located at 4553 Tippecanoe Street. Requests will then be routed through
Michaels Management Services/The Villages, to the Garrison Commander for consideration.
To qualify for extended TLE, service members must ac- cept a home from the first offered preview letter received from Michaels, provided that at least one home offered is appropriate for their rank band and bedroom eligibility. If all offered homes are declined, TLE will cease on the day of availability of an appropriate home. The point of contact for this policy will be USAG Command Office at 760-380-6872. To begin the process, you can call 760-380-3576.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin