Safety Day kicks off 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mary Davis
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 71st Flying Training Wing Safety office kicked off this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign with several wing and unit Safety Day briefings May 23 to ensure Team Vance members prevent mishaps during the summer season. 

To get people ready for summer activities, Wing Safety focused on fire extinguisher, heat injuries, vehicle, recreational, sports, water and outdoor safety briefings. 

With the onset of summer activities, safety becomes critical as off- duty hazards increase, said George Wagner, Ground Safety. 

"The focus is to eliminate hazardous conditions and environments through effective hazard abatement programs," Mr. Wagner said. "This applies to off duty as well as on duty. Good planning should help ensure a safe enjoyable 2008 summer." 

Last year, the Air Force experienced 19 fatalities - 15 of those were due to poor risk decisions and judgment. People should practice risk management during their summer activities, said Maj. Darrell Judy, Wing Safety chief. 

"Operational Risk Management only works if you let it," he said. "Take time to plan your activities. If you think it could be unsafe - it usually is, so try to find a safer way to do it or possibly not do it at all." 

Several civilian agencies provided briefings as well, including the Enid Fire Department, Autry Technology Center, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Lake Patrol, Garfield County Sheriff's Department and the Oklahoma Park Service and the Emergency Medical Service. 

Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Moseley stressed the importance of safety in a 2008 101 Critical Days of Summer memorandum to Airmen recently. 

"We must ensure Airmen at all levels understand the importance of smart personal risk management and being good wingmen. These 101 Critical Days of Summer present an excellent opportunity for us to personally do our part to drastically reduce this trend of mishaps. Supervisors at all levels must engage their Airmen and ensure they understand their role in mitigating risk for themselves and their families. Additionally, continued education efforts should focus on creative ways to communicate the importance of safety for our younger personnel. Success in reducing preventable mishaps depends on strong leadership, effective training, looking out for each other, and maintaining our Warfighter Edge at all times." 

The Air Force began the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign in the late 1960s and was intended to prevent mishaps and fatalities that occur during the summer months. The campaign' s efforts attempt to increase personal awareness of risk, thereby reducing the number of summer mishaps and fatalities.