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Show Hilltop Times March 16, 2006 Cell phone Demolition Continued from 1 Continued from 1 necticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia ban hand-held cell phones for drivers, but many cities have imposed their own rules, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Although the cities surrounding Hill don't currently restrict cell phone use, as with many other restrictions such as motorcycle helmet use, those allowed on base must follow the regulations set forth by the installation. "(DOD is) in front of the majority, but we certainly are not the first ones to do this," said John Seibert, assistant for safety, health and fire protection for DOD. Photo by Beth Young This cell phone regulation will increase Lareen Parkinson, Hill Housing Office specialist traffic safety on installations, Mr. Seibert points out the piles of ruble where the new homes will said, but more importantly, it will encourbe built. age safe driving habits. "Our intent is that this will drive an inplete with about 400 structures being recreased attention to the importance of placed, 400 receiving minor renovations and safe driving and that we'll see a change in 200 receiving major renovations. driving behavior, both on military installations and off," he said. The Department of Defense regulation was already headed back down back in to evacuate the rest of Rescue was developed based on information from the stairs to do just that. the building until the smoke Continued from 1 the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad"I just started banging on cleared. ministration, which studied driving dis1 "We don't advise peopled to "We were walking from one doors and yelling 'Emshee! tractions as the cause of motor vehicle acrun into fires, but in this case, of the stores where we usually 'Emshee! (Move! Move!)," go to talk to the kids when one Airman Dixon said. "I just it worked out," said Peter Gyke, of the teenagers ran up to us started moving people out of U.S. Mission Iraq Fire Departand told us a building was on their apartment and down the ment fire chief. Stop signs fire," Sergeant Lealofi said. stairs. "It was a real adrenaline Continued from 1 "We had already spotted the "The good thing is we were rush," Sergeant Lealofi said. smoke, so we asked him to be able to get 50 people out of the "But I'm just happy no one got • A pedestrian being struck by a car in our interpreter and ran to the lower levels before the fire de- hurt." the spring of 2003 while crossing Southbuilding." gate Avenue at 8th street (near Bldg. 507); "I couldn't have been with a partment arrived," he added. the pedestrian suffered a bloody cut to his While Airman Dixon cleared better partner," he added. "We They discovered that the forehead and a sprained back and leg black smoke was billowing out the bottom two floors, Sergeant were on the same page, thinkof the second floor and called Lealofi realized he could not ing the same way." • A driver hitting a pedestrian during the fire department. They went get to the third floor through the winter of 2003 because of an icy wind"Yeah," Airman Dixon said. straight into the apartment the smoke. He soon discovered "Before he could tell me to shield; the pedestrian received numerous building and tried to locate the that the fire was not spreading; evacuate the bottom floors, injuries and underwent brain surgery and fire but were stopped by the only the smoke was spreading. I was already thinking it and surgery to repair a badly broken leg thick smoke that became pitch So, with the interpreter, he headed down the stairs." According to Jimmy Campbell, a problack by the time they hit the went back outside and called Seregant Lealofi is deployed gram manager with the Ogden Air Logisthird floor. up to the top floors and told to Iraq with his K-9 partner, a tics Center Safety Office, future accidents German shepherd and chow Sergeant Lealofi and the teen- the occupants to keep their could be avoided with a little common age interpreter immediately doors shut and remain calm mix named Bojar ("Jaja"). He sense and a small attitude change. began trying to open ventila- until help arrived. They then is originally from American Sa"Drivers become frustrated and speed tion windows in the enclosed cordoned off the area until the moa, but now calls Hinesville, through the crosswalks to beat pedestristairwell. Sergeant Lealofi fire department arrived a few Ga.( his home. ans or they drive through while the pedesturned and ordered Airman minutes later. Airman Dixon is assigned to trians are still there," he said. "If you're Dixon to get the people on the Once the fire department the emergency services unit of driving a car and you come to a crosswalk lower floors out, but Airman had gained control of the fire, the 75th SFS. His hometown is and see other cars stopped, well, it's time Dixon had read his mind and the two Airmen were allowed Riverdale, Utah. for you to stop too." While they are getting rid of the old and bringing in the new, not all that is old is going. Okland is attempting to keep as many of the trees that line the streets in the housing area as they can. "It's really nice to have a new house with mature trees," Mr. Stewart said. While there are big changes happening in some areas, minor renovations are going on in housing Area G, located north of the Youth Center. Built during the mid-90s, these homes are still in good condition and only need minor work, Mr. Stewart said. They are receiving new carpet, ceiling fans, carbon monoxide detectors, closet organizers, heating units and other upgrades. "We are doing about five a week," he said. "We are working in conjunction with homeowners to have as little impact as possible. So far, it's been going smoothly," The Hill housing project, which includes 1,138 units, will take six years to fully com- cidents, Mr. Seibert said. The study found that cell phone use is the fastest growing and most visible distraction that leads to accidents, he said. "It was recognized at the DOD level that we needed some changes," said Master Sgt. Gloria Ornelas, the superintendent of law enforcement for Air Force Security Forces. "The winner here is the base populace. They will have more mobility while driving, a greater range ofview--in short, a safer driving environment for all." "This is really a cooperative effort for everyone from the base populace to the base leaders," she added. "I think it is long overdue. DOD recognized that, and we are now in line with what some states and municipalities are doing to create a safer environment for drivers." Col. Scott Chambers, 75th Air Base Wing commander, encourages Hill drivers to get ready now for the April 3 start of the new policy. "To those who work with contractors, retirees, family members or others who don't have regular access to the workplace e-mail system or the Hilltop Times, please spread the word about this new policy," he said." (Parts of this story are courtesy of American Forces Information Service and Air Force Print News) Mr. Campbell said that drivers are only one part of the equation and that pedestrians play a role just as important as drivers do in maintaining traffic safety. "What is happening at the crosswalks now is what I like to call the dribble effect," Mr. Campbell said. "Pedestrians will continue to dribble out into the street trying to beat the cars and this can be very dangerous." Despite a tunnel located near the South Gate, many pedestrians chose to cross the street into rush hour traffic. "The tunnel is just not convenient because it's not directly lined up with where people work," Mr. Campbell said. While Hill policy states that pedestrians always have the right of way, Mr. Campbell said that it is still up to pedestrians to follow a lesson most of us learned in childhood: Look both ways before crossing the street. "Fighter Pilots call it sustained awareness," Mr. Campbell said. "For the rest of us, it is called paying attention." COMMUNITY MATTERS SERVE YOUR HOMETOWN AS A MEMBER OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD As an active and integral part of our communities, the Air National Guard is always there - in the best of times and the worst of times. While you may be thinking of returning to civilian life, your experience and leadership qualities are still very much needed by your hometown Air Force - the Air National Guard. 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