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Summer adventures call for summer safety

By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published May 19, 2011

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- It's that time of year again. Air Force leaders are launching their massive 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign to stress the importance of practicing safety during all things related to summer activities.

"With increased activities comes increased risk," said Staff Sgt. David Almy, 4th Fighter Wing Ground Safety office. "Air Combat Command wide from 2009-2010, the leading causes of fatalities during the critical days of summer was contributed to vehicle and motorcycle mishaps."

Summer is the primetime for traveling, and because of that, it is also the time when the biggest con artists make their appearance, preying on tourists who are looking to have a good time. Keeping a lookout for scams and using common sense can enable one to be a savvy traveler.

As well as staying away from 'seedy' areas, travelers should also be well aware of the diseases and sicknesses prevalent near their destination. Researching the area where one will visit will ensure the traveler has ample time to get all shots and immunizations prior to leaving. While it is great to explore new countries and immerse into the culture, there are several precautions that should be taken to ensure a safe and healthy vacation.

"Infectious disease risks that travelers face vary from location to location. In some areas, new diseases have emerged and old ones have re-emerged," said Senior Airman Hussein Khan, 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health technician. "It is important that you conduct pre-trip research on your specific travel location, due to the risk associated with plants, wildlife, insects and diseases common to that area. Reviewing travel health information prior to your trip helps to address the many different health risks you may face and ensures you are aware of the measures to take before and during travel to prevent illness and injury during your trip. Remember that 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'"

Using situational awareness at all times is also a must when conducting summer activities, as well as year round. Because of the increased terror threat levels due to recent events, it is very important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in highly populated tourist areas. Looking for things that just do not seem right becomes more difficult in an area one is not familiar with and may seem like "work" on a vacation, but is potentially a life saver.

"If Airmen remain safe and mitigate the risk associated with summer time activities, they can continue to execute the mission when called upon," Sergeant Almy said.

There is no such thing as a fool-proof plan and while many things are out of our control, using these suggestions can help Airmen and families have a safer summer. For more information about summer safety, contact the Public Health Flight at 919-722-1172, or the Safety office at 919-722-4222.
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