'Critical Days' conclude Labor Day weekend; safety even more critical

  • Published
  • By Capt. Geoff Buteau
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  As The Critical Days of Summer campaign draws to a close with the end of the long Labor Day weekend, the 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office reminds the Hanscom community that this final weekend can be the most risky. 

The holiday weekend is the last chance for most to fit in a summer event, and since most will use a motor vehicle to travel to their destination, the roads become exponentially more dangerous, said Tech. Sgt. Shawn Rice, from the 66 ABW Safety Office. 

"The number one cause of injury and death during the Labor Day weekend is vehicle related," he said. 

That risk does not only exist during travel from point A to point B. 

Echoing Maj. Gen. Frederick F. Roggero, Air Force Chief of Safety, Col. Joan Cunningham, director of safety for Air Force Materiel Command, commented on the 42 motor vehicle fatalities that happened since the beginning of the 2009 fiscal year in an e-mail Aug. 31 to AFMC commanders and installation safety directors: 

"Many of these accidents and resulting fatalities could have been prevented by wearing proper life saving equipment such as seatbelts and helmets, operating within speed limits, avoiding alcohol when operating vehicles, and resisting the temptation to perform maneuvers beyond one's skill level or those that involve extreme risk." 

In addition to avoiding the risks mentioned by Colonel Cunningham, there are risk assessment tools available to commanders to help prevent tragedies before they happen. 

One of which is the Air Force Culture Assessment Tool, which provides anonymous individualized feedback and interpretation for commanders' regarding all aspects of their organization's safety climate so they can take action where needed. Visit www.afcast.org to begin the assessment. 

For Airmen traveling to a duty or leave destination there is the Travel Risk Planning System, which reviews the travel plan and reminds travelers about last minute safety precautions before they depart. Visit https://crcapps2.crc.army.mil/TRiPS/af/login.aspx to use the system. 

During the 2009 Critical Days of Summer, the Air Force has lost 19 Airmen, 15 of those fatalities were due to motor vehicle accidents. 

One of the goals of the safety office, said Sergeant Rice, is that "We want you to get wherever you are going and back in one piece." 

To learn about how to minimize risks associated with operating motor vehicles, traveling and sporting activities, contact a unit safety representative or the 66 ABW Safety Office at (781) 377-5135.