Make the right choice during the Critical Days of Summer

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the sun is out, the water is warm and the drinks are cold. It is a time for fun, barbeques and family outings. However, it is a time when the Air Force continues to lose its greatest resource, Airmen.

With the increase in daylight hours and favorable weather conditions, the summer months provide many opportunities for high-risk activities such as long-distance traveling and various outdoor recreational events.

"My desire is for you all to enjoy relaxing time with friends and family over the Memorial Day weekend," said Col. Michael Grismer, 436th Airlift Wing commander.  "Please keep safety at the forefront of your activities.  Each of you is a vital teammate-- we need you all to return safely next week."

This year, the 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office is emphasizing its new campaign t for this dangerous time of year.

"This summer the overall campaign theme is 'Make the Right Choices,'" said Lt. Col. Mark Radio, 436th Airlift Wing chief of safety. "Everything the safety office is going to do will be about awareness and prevention to avoid mishaps, either in the air or on the ground, and to keep our people and their families safe."

The campaign stretches from Memorial Day to Labor Day with an emphasis on making the right choices before undergoing any high-risk activities. However, it is not only high-risk activities that cause mishaps and fatalities, simple, everyday activities such as camping, swimming, fishing and cooking outdoors also require planning.

Lorie Bellamy, 436th AW/SE ground safety manager, said planning is the first step in making the right choices this summer.

"Most mishaps are preventable," said Bellamy. "If you go back and look at the mishap scenarios, there is almost no planning involved and the wrong decisions were made."

Motor vehicle safety is also on the forefront of this year's campaign. Last year, the Air Force lost 17 Airmen, 10 of which were vehicle related, during the critical days of summer. Bellamy said even though driving is an everyday task, many people overlook the risks associated with it. With longer daylight hours, many travelers may find themselves taking longer, more extensive road trips.

"Driving in general sounds simplified but you can't push your limits," said Bellamy. "Driving while fatigued is just as hazardous as driving while under the influence of alcohol."

On-duty losses are also real-world occurrences during this time of year. Last year the Air Force lost two Airmen when they collapsed during physical training and one Airman was killed after being struck by a government owned vehicle. Proper hydration and situational awareness are essential during the summer months and Airmen should not hesitate to speak up if they are feeling unwell or witness an unsafe event.

So whether you are about to jump out of an airplane on a skydiving adventure or you are simply crossing the street to report for duty, always practice situational awareness and plan for your activities and events.

"Our goal is to have zero deaths this summer," said Bellamy. "Every summer we continue to lose our folks, that's why our message always needs to be put out there and we will continue to do that throughout the summer."