Public Affairs (PAO/STRATCOM)

Weather outside frightful? SNAIR keeps you informed

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

By Kerstin Lopez
GUIDON Staff

When severe winter weather threatens the Fort Leonard Wood area, it can be a time of chaos and concern, and that’s why the Snow and Ice Removal program is a necessary and crucial step to keeping our community safe.

Extremes in winter weather pose challenges on training, installation operations and can increase the risk of weather- related accidents and injuries. SNAIR operations help to alleviate those concerns when such occurrences strike Fort Leonard Wood, and ensure training and operations continue with minimal disruption.

The SNAIR program is an intricate network of organizations across the installation working together to minimize the dangers of hazardous road conditions.

The SNAIR crisis action team consists of the Emergency Operations Center, Directorate of Plans, Training and Mobilization, Directorate of Public Works, LB&B, Public Affairs Office, Directorate of Support Services, Range Division, Directorate of Emergency Services, Garrison Command, 1st Engineer Brigade, 3rd Chemical Brigade, 14th Military Police Brigade and the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

“It’s important to maintain safety and the flow of traffic in and out of Fort Leonard Wood during SNAIR operations,” said Master Sgt. James Pacillo, SNAIR action officer.

When an early release is implemented due to weather, personnel should be released in approximately 15-minute increments to allow for safe and quick travel off the installation. It’s crucial for the staggered timelines to be followed to avoid further hazards on the road, Pacillo said.

As the weather deteriorates, so will the road condition status, which are classified into four categories — green, amber, red and black.

Green conditions indicate that there are no safety threats due to weather conditions and normal operations will proceed. Amber is defined as difficult to hazardous with patches of ice or packed snow and there will be limited travel during this road condition. When the weather worsens and forecasts call for continued precipitation and below freezing temperatures, the road condition will be increased to red. Red indicates that most intersections and roads are extremely hazardous. Black road conditions are the most severe and can present a risk to life. Vehicle travel will be restricted to mission essential personnel only during black road conditions.

Priority one routes for SNAIR operations are determined by the EOC and include the main thoroughfares across post, essential roads and parking lots. DPW and LB&B will be responsible for clearing the areas designated.

When winter weather approaches and road conditions worsen, tune to FM 103.7 KJEL, FM 99.7 KTTR, FM 97.9 KFBD, FM 98.9 KFLW or FM 102.3 KIIK for information regarding cancellations, early releases or delayed reporting times. For updated road conditions on Fort Leonard Wood, contact 563.4141 or check the Fort Leonard Wood homepage at www.wood.army.mil. In addition, personnel across the installation that are logged in to the domain will receive desktop alerts to their computers with updated SNAIR reports.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Sent on behalf of the commanding general- widest dissemination: SUBJECT: INTRAVENOUS (IV) THERAPY for heat casualties

AUDIENCE: ALL FORT LEONARD WOOD UNITS (ASSIGNED, ATTACHED OR OPCON)

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1 JULY 2009

DIRECTIVE: COMBAT LIFESAVERS AND MEDICS WILL NO LONGER ADMINISTER IVS TO PATIENTS/CASUALTIES ON FORT LEONARD WOOD OR IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

JUSTIFICATION: CLINICAL EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN ADMINISTRATION OF IVS IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO SURVIVABILITY. AIRWAY-BREATHING-CIRCULATION (A-B-C) IS THE BEST INTERVENTION. STATE AND FEDERAL LAW DO NOT ALLOW EMT-B MEDICS (68W) OR COMBAT LIFESAVERS (CLS) TO PERFORM IV THERAPY. CLS AND MEDICS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO ADMINISTER IVS TO BATTLEFIELD CASUALTIES WHILE DEPLOYED IN A TACTICAL THEATER OF OPERATION.

HEAT CASUALTY TREATMENT: THE FOLLOWING IS THE ONLY APPROVED PROCESS FOR TREATING HEAT CASUALTIES ON FORT LEONARD WOOD

1. Call 911

2. Maintain airway-breathing-circulation

3. Move to a cool shaded area

4. Remove boots and outer garments

5. Provide water (if conscious)

6. Elevate feet

7. Soak clothing with water and fan CONTINUOUSLY

8. Use "ice sheets" if available

BOTTOM LINE: This better approach to treating heat injuries WILL result in better care for our troops!

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SAFETY ALERT for FIREWORKS

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"The Choice is Yours" Questions and Answers from the 30 June 09 Town Hall Meeting

 TRICARE beneficiaries should not have to travel more than 30 miles to their primary care manager (PCM).
 With a civilian network provider as their PCM, beneficiaries will pay co-pays of $12 per outpatient visit and $30 per emergency room visit.
 There are no restrictions on X-ray, lab, or pharmacy. However, if X-rays are taken at GLWACH, the patient has to pick them up at GLWACH take them to their provider. It is best to get the services at the provider’s office on the same day as the appointment. There is no additional co-pay and the results are available to the provider.
 If a beneficiary can’t get to their PCM and needs urgent care, they should go to an urgent care clinic. There is information on urgent care clinics on the TRIWEST web site.
 This campaign doesn’t pertain to TRICARE for Life enrollees as they are covered by Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare pays first then TRICARE picks up the rest of the allowable charges.

Q1—If one enrolls outside the MTF and wants to come back to the MTF, can they?
A1—Yes, if the MTF opens enrollment, but beneficiaries must stay outside the facility for 12 months.
Q2—What if a beneficiary goes to a network emergency room but others working in that facility aren’t network providers. Are they responsible for the balance?
A2—Beneficiaries would pay only one co-pay. Avoid providers that don’t participate in TRICARE.
Q3—If I’m scheduled appointments with GLWACH specialists and choose a PCM off post will my specialty appointments be cancelled?
A3—No.
Q4—If a PCM off post is selected, will the commander force beneficiaries to come back on post?
A4—Our enrollment numbers are not expected to drop low enough to have that happen.
Q5—If I choose a PCM that I’m not happy with, can I change?
A5—Yes, beneficiaries can change PCMs two times per year.
Q6—What are the disadvantages to picking an off post PCM?
A6—Co-pays and availability of network providers. Check network provider listing to see if it’s adequate for you.
Q7—If plenty of people disenroll from GLWACH, will it free up services for those who don’t disenroll?
A7—We are 14,000 over enrollment, but only 1,000 have disenrolled.
Q8—Is the emergency room wait time so long because they’re short staffed.
A8—No. The emergency room staff is servicing the wrong population (urgent care needs not emergent needs).
Q9—If we live on post do we have to go off post?
A9—No. If you’re a family member of active duty and live on post, you can enroll on post or off post.

There are additional Qs and As on the GLWACH Web site, available at http://glwach.amedd.army.mil/cdr/CurrentFocus/ChoiceCampaign/ChoiceFAQ.htm

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