Baltimore – Soldiers engaged in combat and serving as operator or gunner on a Humvee are more likely to be injured in crashes, according to a study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Researchers analyzed 1999-2006 crash data for the Army Humvee (a highly mobile multi-purpose wheeled vehicle) and found a link between injury and combat. Gunners – who often sit in an exposed position on top of the vehicle – had the greatest risk for injury, the study abstract stated.

Researchers speculated that soldiers may be distracted or less likely to protect themselves in high-stress situations such as combat. They suggested training Humvee operators in combat-like situations through simulation or live-training exercises, and said gunners may need devices for protection in rollover crashes.

The study appeared in the August issue of the journal Military Medicine.