Staying safe as Critical Days of Summer comes to a close

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Labor Day weekend represents the final days of the Air Force's Critical Days of Summer campaign.

The extended weekend also marks the last opportunity for people to enjoy summertime activities with their families.

The 4th Fighter Wing Safety Office stresses the importance of members of Team Seymour to develop and execute a safety plan while enjoying their holiday weekend.

"We know that much of Team Seymour will be barbecuing, traveling, and visiting family and friends," said Senior Master Sgt. Jaime Lopez, 4th Fighter Wing ground safety superintendent. "We shouldn't take for granted the importance of implementing adequate risk management procedures and preparing for any possible scenario that may arise."

Travel safety tops the safety office's priority list, and for good reason.

According to the Automobile Association of America, an estimated 34.1 million Americans traveled during the 2013 Labor Day weekend, with nearly 400 traffic-related deaths and more than 42,000 medically consulted injuries.

"There are many factors that contribute to highway traffic incidents," Lopez said. "One of the biggest problems is that your safety is largely dependent upon the actions of those around you. The best way to make sure you get to your destination safely is to stack the odds in your favor by eliminating distractions and using defensive driving skills."

Lt. Col. John Beatty, Detachment 15 commander, recently encountered such a traffic incident while driving in Virginia. During the drive, he and his wife Darci witnessed a major car accident directly in front of them. They pulled over and provided help at the scene. The vehicle was carrying two adults and three children. Luckily, there were no serious injuries. Thanks to proper planning, awareness and defensive driving, the Beattys were able to assess the situation and use their own travel safety plan to help the family of five.

As Lopez stresses, and as Beatty encountered, traveling safely depends on what's happening around you. But Lopez notes that military members are often trained with skills and qualities that can come in handy during events like the one the Beattys encountered, and it's important for Airmen to embrace the wingman concept if needed.

"While it's impossible to completely eliminate the chances that a road accident might happen, developing a sufficient plan diminishes the likelihood that they will," Lopez said.

The safety office suggests members conduct a pre-trip vehicle inspection to ensure a vehicle's roadworthiness. Vehicles should be equipped with a spare tire in good condition, tools necessary to perform needed repairs, and emergency items such as blankets, flares, food, water and a first aid kit. It's also important to ensure your vehicle's registration and proof of insurance is readily available should you need them.

"Just like packing the right pair of shorts and loose-fitting shirt may be important for enjoying a trip to the beach, properly preparing your vehicle with all the essentials needed in case of an emergency can reduce the risks associated with travel," Lopez said.

Properly maintained vehicles aren't the only part of developing a travel safety plan. The safety office said fatigued driving accounts for more than 100,000 accidents each year, resulting in approximately 1,500 deaths annually.

In order to ensure Team Seymour's families aren't part of this statistic, Lopez suggests making sure each driver get enough rest in preparation for a long trip.

"A well-rested driver is not only thinking safely for the other passengers of the vehicle but also all other vehicles on the road," he said. "Being well rested is of high importance to everyone while traveling. Fatigue, alcohol and distractions impair a driver's abilities to avoid and react to dangerous situations.

"Summer may be coming to a close, but proper risk management isn't limited to any one season," Lopez said. "Safety, just like military service, is a 24/7 duty."