Apply risk management to your summer fun Published May 25, 2011 By Staff Sgt. James Bolinger 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In 2010 the Air Force suffered 16 fatalities. Thirteen of those occurred while members were operating four-wheel private motor vehicles or motorcycles. With Memorial Day weekend marking the beginning of the 101 Critical Days of Summer at Vance, officials here have tips to keep personnel on the living side of this statistic. New laws, old hazards and common injuries are all things the 71st Flying Training Wing Safety Office would like to address with Vance's Airmen, civilians and contractors prior to the three-day weekend, said Maj. Kyle Boeckman, the 71st FTW chief of safety. Threats facing members here include motorcycle and boating safety and sports related injuries. Beware the BUI This year, Oklahoma has decided to crack down on intoxicated boat drivers, said Major Boeckman. A new law, which goes into effect this weekend, lowers the blood alcohol level from 0.1 to .08 while operating a water craft. Boating while intoxicated can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated and, in the past, has been dealt with in a similar manner, said Maj. Jeff Biller, the 71st FTW deputy staff judge advocate. Alcohol related incidents, depending on the severity, can result in anything from administrative actions to courts-martial. Even lower-level alcohol incidents, if repeated, can result in administrative discharge from the Air Force, Major Biller said. Riding to live Warm weather signifies more than just the opening of the boating season. Many Team Vance bikers are tuning up their motorcycles and looking forward to a summer season full of riding adventures. The first two Air Force motorcycle related fatalities involved sport bikes traveling in excess of 100 mph, said Craig Wetherington, Vance's ground safety manager. A lot of things can happen when an Airman is out on the road, he said. The driver might be in control of the bike but isn't thinking about the other guy. Just because there is a red light in Enid doesn't mean that everybody is going stop for it, Mr. Wetherington said. Ensuring proper wear of personnel protective equipment both on and off base is not only a Department of Defense regulation, it is smart, said Mr. Wetherington. "When you're riding a motorcycle the risk is automatically higher," said Major Boeckman. "You don't have the cockroach-like exoskeleton of a car to protect you." Sliding across asphalt is like 200-grit sandpaper on someone's skin, said Mr. Wetherington. "It's not pretty," he said. Think before you leap While bikes and boats present threats to base members, they are not the most common cause of injuries, according to the Safety Office. Sports related injuries are a theme at Vance from year to year, said Major Boeckman. People forget that they aren't in high school anymore and jump into games their bodies aren't ready for. Attacking a rigorous activity like flag football after months or years of inactivity and expecting to perform at the same level as a 16 year old is unrealistic, the major said. Safety tip: Don't forget to fill out your Air Education and Training Command Form 410, High-risk Activities Worksheet, and have it signed by your commander before taking part in a high risk activity. If you think it's a high risk activity, it probably is.