As 101 Critical Days of Summer draws to a close: stay safe

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  As the 101 Critical Days of Summer draws to a close, it's time for Airmen to remember that the four-day Labor Day weekend and last-minute vacations make this a prime time for an increased risk for accidents that could be fatal. 

August has historically been one of the worst months for personal motorized vehicle and sports and recreation fatalities during the 101 CDS, according to Maj. Gen. Wendell Griffin, Air Force Chief of Safety and Air Force Safety Center commander. 

"Ninety-five percent of mishaps can be prevented by using common sense," said Jack Wylie, 7th Bomb Wing ground safety manager. "You have to use the 'slow down to speed up' concept - realize that driving 15 miles per hour above the speed limit won't get you there much sooner in Abilene. Plus, taking short cuts on the job won't really save you time if it ends up being done wrong and you need to re-do it." 

As the Air Force's most significant resource, Airmen need to be ready 24/7, Mr. Wylie said. "If you're on a profile or not ready to deploy, someone else will have to do the job for you." 

Maj. Derek Leivestad, 7th BW safety, added that enough lives are at risk every day while engaged in the Global War on Terrorism, and "we don't need to do the enemy's job for them" by taking fatal risks, he said. 

"With the Air Force trying to draw down troop numbers to upgrade equipment and planes, each person becomes a more valuable part of the military force," Major Leivestad said. "Most people don't sit down first thing in the morning and say, 'I'm going to be safe today.' But if you're doing something that seems dumb, dangerous, or different, just stop and think about it before you do it. Make sure you get the proper training and use the right equipment." 

Because 70 percent of mishaps occur off duty, Major Leivestad and Mr. Wylie emphasized that Airmen should use their wingmen, especially during recreational and social activities. 

"When you socialize, you tend to drink, and you don't always have the ability to know that you're impaired," Major Leivestad said. "But your wingman knows. It's always easier to see when you're the third person." 

But not all incidents occur because of alcohol. This summer alone, in the Big Country, three boating accidents have claimed five lives. Mr. Wylie reminded Airmen that "planning trips, making sure you have everything you need in case of emergency (life vests and oars if you're on a lake, a car emergency kit for road trips), wearing a seatbelt, and following the speed limit are all simple things that take very little time to do, but can save your life if something does happen." 

The good news is, we are on track to have one of the safest summers and overall fewer off-duty deaths, in recent history, according to General Griffin. 

"At the end of day we owe it to our Airmen and the Air Force to accomplish the mission with the right amount of risk while remaining good stewards of our mission resources," he said.