Hanscom gearing up for 101 Critical Days of Summer

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Hanscom AFB --  The Electronic Systems Center Safety Office is on a mission -- a mission to make people stop and think about safety. With the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign set to begin today, the Safety Office is on the offensive with a comprehensive campaign aimed at increasing personal awareness of the risks associated with the summer season and reducing the number of mishaps and fatalities that have traditionally increased during this period. 

"Safety is no mystery -- just common sense," said ESC Director of Safety Galen Williams. "We know that people are going to play hard during the summer months but we also want them to play smart and use risk mitigation. We know that people try to fit a lot in during the summer, and that's okay as long as they take a few minutes to utilize risk management to ensure that their actions won't lead to a mishap -- or worse -- a fatality. A brief accident may last forever."

 The Air Force-wide 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. There will not be a mass safety briefing at the Base Theater this year, because of the Base Readiness Exercises and Operational Readiness Inspection preparation. The 2007 101 CDS campaign packages can be found on the ESC Safety Homepage located on the AF Portal, and with unit safety representatives. Additionally, all supervisors should use this information for safety briefings prior to the Memorial Day Weekend.

 "Last year we had 16 reportable mishaps during the campaign; this year one of our goals is to reduce that number by 50 percent," said Mike Trudeau, ESC Safety Office VPP manager.

 "People might ask, why the emphasis? We have a good safety record here," he said. 

"The fact is we're not immune from any of the risks; we want to be sure people go into this critical time armed with information and awareness to help them in making the right choices that will keep them, their co-workers and family safe. Our people are important to us," Mr. Trudeau said. 

June is National Safety month. Throughout the month, the Safety Office, in conjunction with other base organizations, has put together a variety of safety articles and events focusing on topics such as safe driving, workplace safety, sports and recreation, home and community safety, emergency preparedness initiatives, and VPP. Safety events for this year will take place in July after the ORI in June.

"During the 101 Critical Days of Summer 2006 campaign, the Air Force experienced 18 fatalities compared to 29 fatalities during 2005. As in past years, motor vehicle fatalities accounted for most of our losses -- seven in personal motor vehicles and four in motorcycle mishaps. Some of the factors in these mishaps included speeding and not using seatbelts or helmets. 

"Alcohol was a factor in two motor vehicle mishaps. The Wingman and VPP concepts play a big part in preventing many of these mishaps," said Tech. Sgt. Gerald Boarts, ESC Ground Safety manager. "The bottom line is, friends or Wingmen: don't let friends drive drunk, without a helmet or without a seatbelt. We all have to look out for one another." 

For additional information contact the ESC Safety Office at (781) 377-5135 or go to the Safety Office Web site found on the AF Portal.