101 Critical Days of Summer security hazards > Robins Air Force Base > Article Display

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. —

Your security is crucial this summer time. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, traditionally often known as the ‘101 Critical Days of Summer’. Significant improve in accidents and accidents occur throughout this era, so let’s forestall an unintended tragedy by proactively partaking danger administration.

Consider the price of ignoring security: from 2021 to 2025, the Department of the Air Force misplaced 50 members in preventable motorized vehicle accidents. In 2025 alone, we misplaced 8 members to water-related incidents, the best quantity in 5 years. Plan forward, assess the dangers, and make this a secure, injury-free summer time.

“Our operational readiness is directly tied to how we conduct ourselves off-duty,” mentioned Brig. Gen. Otis Jones, DAF Chief of Safety. “The tragic loss of 50 personnel on our roads over five years and eight on the water last summer shows that complacency is our deadliest adversary. We must apply the same rigorous risk management at home as we do in the workplace—it is a fundamental duty of every Airman and Guardian to protect themselves and each other.”

Here are necessary security hazards to concentrate on and suggestions to assist keep away from them:

Travel:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Increased street journey throughout trip season results in extra accidents. Factors embody distracted driving, rushing, drunk driving, drowsy driving, danger of tire blowouts and elevated site visitors congestion.
  
  • Tips: Never drink and drive and observe all velocity limits, hold your eyes on the street and don’t drive distracted.

• Motorcycle Accidents: More motorcyclists on the street through the summer time months, the chance of accidents. Factors embody rushing, drunk using, and no private protecting gear.
  • Tips: Always put on your private protecting gear for each trip, by no means drink and trip and don’t velocity.

• Bicycle Accidents: Bicyclists ought to trip a motorbike that matches them, observe the foundations of the street and yield the proper of method to motorists.
  • Tips: Always be seen, put on a correctly becoming helmet and trip defensively to keep away from accidents.

• Pedestrian Accidents: Increased pedestrian site visitors, particularly close to vacationer points of interest and seashores, can result in accidents.
  • Tips: Always look ahead to pedestrians and pedestrians ought to chorus from telephone distractions, use crosswalks and at all times look each methods.

Water:

• Drowning: Increased swimming, boating, and different water actions considerably elevate the chance of drowning. Factors embody lack of swimming skill, unsupervised kids, alcohol consumption close to water.
  
  • Tips: Always regulate kids, use life jackets anytime you might be on or close to the water and by no means swim alone or use alcohol.

• Boating Accidents: Higher boating site visitors results in elevated collisions, capsizing, and falls overboard. This is compounded by components like rushing, alcohol use, operator inexperience, and lack of life jackets.
  • Tips: Take a boating course, don’t velocity and observe all water guidelines, and everybody ought to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket whereas on the boat or close to the water.

• Rip Currents: Strong, slender currents shifting away from shore can rapidly pull swimmers out to sea.
  • Tips: First of all, don’t panic. Don’t battle the present immediately, swim parallel to the shore to get out of a rip present and by no means swim alone.

Heat:

• Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion: Prolonged publicity to excessive temperatures and humidity can result in these harmful circumstances. Factors embody strenuous exercise within the warmth, dehydration, lack of acclimatization, and underlying medical circumstances.
  
  • Tips: Know the indicators to keep away from heatstroke or warmth exhaustion, take away the particular person from the warmth and funky them down, and name 911. Vehicles could be a hazard to kids and pets, the temperature inside a automotive can rise to lethal ranges quickly.

• Dehydration: Whether engaged on the flightline or in your yard not ingesting sufficient fluids, particularly throughout sizzling climate and bodily exercise, can result in dehydration and its related well being issues.
  • Tips: Drink water usually and earlier than you begin feeling thirsty, as that could be a signal of dehydration.  Choose water or drinks excessive in electrolytes to remain hydrated. Remember sugary drinks, caffeine, and alcohol can dehydrate you.

• Sunburn: Excessive publicity to the solar’s ultraviolet (UV) rays could cause sunburn, growing the chance of pores and skin most cancers.
  • Tips: Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater to guard you from sunburn. Use a hat or discover shade.

These hazards usually are not exhaustive, and particular dangers could fluctuate relying on location and particular person actions. It is crucial to concentrate on potential risks and take acceptable precautions to remain secure through the summer time months. Remember to prioritize security, plan for the sudden, and at all times be conscious of your environment.

“People, our most valuable resource,” mentioned Keith Lear, chief of Occupational Safety, Air Force Safety Center. “The ‘101 Critical Days of Summer’ challenges us to protect that resource with unwavering vigilance. Don’t let a preventable accident be the last chapter of your summer story. Plan, prepare, and consider the risk, bottom line, think before you do! Preventive measures you take can make this summer the best one yet!”

For extra info:  https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Occupational-Safety-Division/Summer-Safety/