Remember safety, ORM during 101 critical days

  • Published
  • By Col. Bryan Benson
  • 71st Flying Training Wing
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Tuesday we will have a Safety Day to focus on the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign that runs Memorial Day through Labor Day. This year's campaign theme is "Operation Safe Summer, Zero Fatalities."
The months of June, July and August rank No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, as the most deadly months of the year for off-duty fatal mishaps, many alcohol related. Even though summer constitutes a quarter of the calendar year, history has shown that as many as 40 percent of Air Force off-duty mishaps occur during this period.
What can we do to ensure we don't become part of those statistics? One thing we can do should be second nature to us. Just click it. Most of us automatically buckle up before we turn the ignition on. National Safety Council studies have shown seat belts save more than 4,000 lives and prevent more than 100,000 injuries each year. Those statistics for seat belt use leave little room for a debate on their effectiveness.
Unfortunately, there's no safety belt for your mind, but that's no excuse not to click on sound judgment when engaged in off-duty activities. You may have noticed when you arrived at the gate Monday, the marquee was changed to reflect one day since an alcohol-involved incident happened.
The only good thing about the incident that took us from 110 alcohol incident-free days back to zero is there were no fatalities or injuries -- this time. I don't want to think of what the results would have been if the individual had gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle. This time, poor judgment resulted in one less student receiving his wings at graduation Friday -- and that's just the immediate impact. You can fill in the blanks for the long term-impact for someone who chooses to ignore the operational risk management tenets he or she has been exposed to for the last year at Vance. Suffice to say that at a time when highly-qualified individuals deserving of a career are being forced out by the force shaping board, we have little room for those whose actions demonstrate they are not trustworthy of the faith demanded of today's military members.
I wish I had the magic words that would eliminate poor judgment and risk taking by all of Team Vance, but I don't. I must remind you however of the consequences you could face if you choose to ignore the guidance provided by your commanders and supervisors.
I know that a one-day series of briefings will not make everyone invulnerable to ignoring sound ORM practices or keep you from lowering the number of days on the base marquee. That's not going to happen. After all, despite the statistics on the benefits of seat belts, not everyone during the nearly 40 years the belts have been required in all domestic cars have opted to use them. Those few who flaunt the statistics and laws mandating use of seat belts continue to make the newspapers daily, often on the obituary page.
What I can, and will, ask of you when you attend Tuesday's safety briefings is to listen attentively and implement the safe practices offered. You, your family, co-workers and your nation depend on your sound judgment when engaged in on- and off-duty activities this summer.