OCR Text |
Show 8 HILLTOP TIMES May 20, 2010 Common sense and risk assessments necessary as warm weather arrives BY RON JAMES 75th Air Base Wing Safety Office S o far this year the Air Force has lost too many of its valued members to off-duty mishaps. TWenty six lives have been taken in off-duty mishaps; thirteen have died in automobiles and six have died due to motorcycle accidents. We are not yet into the period of time that historically produces a lot of mishaps. I am talking about "101 Critical Days of Summer" This is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when increased outdoor and recreational activities usually result in increased mishaps. In the past, Hill Air Force Base has lost some of its valued members in accidents ranging from motorcycle accidents to climbing accidents. In addition to these fatalities there have been many near misses that could have easily been fatal. Hill AFB can identify areas of concern that in the past have been particularly prone to producing mishaps. Motorcycle accidents stand out as a consistent source of summer injuries. A few summers ago two members of Team Hill were killed. The base has had numerous motorcycle related injuries that could have been fatal. One rider slammed his face into the pavement because he had no riding experience and did not know how to brake. Common contributing factors include alcohol use, inexperi- 101 Critical Dans of Summei Step 4: Make the Right Decision. - If you don't make the right decisions for yourself then do it • We often feel enced riders and pushing for others. we are somehow bikes beyond safe operatThe Air Force's "101 Critical removed from the Days of Summer" mishap rates ing parameters. risks we take. Risks have not improved. Why? One Automobile accidents apply to everyone are always a contributor [ answer may be the source of else, not me. the message. Safety offices and to the number of higher commanders all have the same summer incidents- Hill • We often marginalize the risk message that you need to be employees have suswithout serious tained some very serious safe. These are external sources thought to what they of the message. Every day we injuries from automobile really are. What accidents. Base personare bombarded with these exterrisks are you taknel spend a lot of time in. nal messages. They as a general ing by getting on an rule do not sink in very well. cars getting to summer ATV with no experiactivities. You do respond to internal ence? messages; they are the messages Common causal facthat come from within you. If STEP 3: Analyze the risk and tors include: falling asleep at the hiking or climbing in steep teryou have ever been part of an acwheel, alcohol use and driving consider the options rain. Swimming in cold mouncident or witnessed a serious actoo fast for existing conditions. Determine what level of risk tain lakes is much different than you can live with. Risk can be de- cident you will most likely interwarmer waters. Cramps can set ATV mishaps have been on in that makes swimming next to fined as the possibility of suffer- nalize the importance of wearing the rise. The past few years has seatbelts. Each time you get in ing harm or loss. By looking at impossible. seen some very serious injuries the car the internal voice buckles the consequences of the risk, you sustained from all terrain veWhat can be done to reduce hicle use. We see folks rent ATVs and eliminate these types of mis- will easily determine what level you up. You can internalize the need for doing some "Personal of risk you can live with. who have no riding experience. haps? Risk Management." We have had people crush parts Personal risk management What consequences can of their body because they unBurn in your minds the you live with? derestimated their ATVs' ability Take a little time to evaluate consequences that unsafe acts • Can you live with the risk what you are doing. to turn on gravel. We have had will have on you, your friends you take when you do not wear young Airmen who thought the and loved ones. Investigation of STEP 1: Identify the hazards your seat belt? ATV could fly, bouncing them off you are exposed to accidents is a sobering experiand then running over them. • Can you live with the conse- ence. Often a single, thoughtless Most of us have a good idea of quence of a broken face, back or act results in serious consethe hazards we face in our daily Common causal factors lacerations? world. Think about the hazards quences for the rest of your life. include: inexperienced rider, you are facing and the risks you • Can you live with the conse- Start practicing your "Personal: inexperienced rider and inexpeRisk Management" by thinking; are taking. If you swim across quences your body will experirienced rider. that cold lake, what hazards exthrough the situation you are in,, ence should you lose control of Mountain activities ist? considering the consequences your motorcycle when it takes and options and then making an the canyon turn at 100 mph? STEP 2: Assess the risks Mountain and lake mishaps informed decision, instead of a • Can you live with risks that • We do a poor job assessing have occurred in the past. Hikers spur of the moment decision. face your family members? underestimate the seriousness of the risks. DAY From page 1 A Safety Fair will be set up at the park and activities will follow the lunch with a wide variety of fun demonstrations, displays and booths. A Davis County Sheriff's Office search and rescue presentation will be featured as well as airbag demonstrations, hunter safety education, and camping, rafting, kayaking and boating safety features offered. Fairgoers will also find ATV, motorcycle and safety gear on display and an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program information booth. Commanders and supervisors will also hand out combined "See Me Save Me" and You Matter pamphlets at all three gates at high volume times. "In the safety world, the 'Spring Bike Spike' is the sharp increase in the number of motorcycle accidents every year, when automobile drivers don't see our two-wheeled friends," said Lt. Col. Jeff Zemke, 75th Air Base Wing Chief of Safety. This time of year also means some riders skill sets have deteriorated over the long winter months and a review of motorcycle safety skills is recommended. An important aspect of the day's events will include a mass ride across base as a demonstration of just how many motorcycles there are on the roads. Off-base riders may participate with the group by meeting the group at the Hill Aerospace Museum for a ride through nearby cities and towns. Offbase riders are asked to assemble at the museum at 11:15 a.m. Base riders are asked to assemble at the motorcycle training range near the South Gate at 11 a.m. Zemke pointed'out a recent incident in which a novice motorcycle rider crashed his sport bike motorcycle but was uninjured due to safety gear. The bike will never be the same. The consequences for not getting adequate training and experience can be deadly and Wingmen watch out for one another. "Being a good Wingman means you have to get personal and know your people," Zemke said as he noted the three components of briefings to be conducted during the day - the Team Hill You Matter Program, motorcycle safety and the 101 Critical Days of Summer. "Common sense seems to be at its lowest during the 101 Critical Days of Summer," said the safety director. Zemke strongly recommended planning and adequate training before trying any new or risky activity. "I am proud to be in the greatest Air Force in the world. You can have the best resources and equipment, but it takes the best people to make the mission happen," he said. "Unfortunately, we have had an alarming number of deaths due to reckless behaviors of our Airmen. It is time to take a short pause and discuss with each other our responsibility ... Knowing and taking care of each other is the basic Wingman Concept, and it applies on the ground as well as in the air." Zemke praised the Wingman Advocates for their work in reaching out to others and noted the appropriateness of the event. "Wingman Day just gives us a reason to all come together," he said. Campbell also pointed out the bottom line: "Wingman Stand Down Safety Day is important because we need to protect and preserve our most precious resource - people." "As part of the Air Force family, we educate and train our family members to observe, respond and act whenever there is an unsafe condition. Training is never one time and done - it is continuous and evolving," he added as he noted the high number of motor vehicle mishaps involving Air Force personnel. Campbell pointed out the possible effects that even an injury can pose on both families and co-workers adding stress, work load and health costs. "In mdst cases, any injury of a crew member is accepted by fellow employees. But if you multiply that on a large scale operation,* then you have a lot of people not wcji and others filling the void," he s makes it much more challenging to fulfill the Air Force mission. ; , • Alliance Credit Union Refer a friend to Ad or Alice and when their Mortgage Loan doses you will receive a $100 VISA Gift Card. Alliance Credit Union Alice Petersen Al Drummond West Branch Main Branch 801/627-8733 B01/627-8744 Call today jini let Al or Alice guide you through the mortgage process,, they would be happy to answer any questions you may have... SQI/627-S7OO Mortgages ....We are Here to Help! Questions about your existing mortgage, r • Is a refinance a good fit in today's market? • Buying or selling, we can help. • Mew construction, where do I start? j M.A. Information Technology Management • M.A. Human Resources Management * M.A. Management and Leadership M.A. Procurement and Acquisitions Management M.B.A. Master of Business Administration - M.B.A. classes held at the Freeport Center in Cleaifield Contact us today!! \fifebster UNIVERSITY Hill Air Force Base Campus 7290 Weiner Street Bldg 383 Ste 114 Hill AFB, UT 84056 www.webster.edu/hill Phone: 801-779-2061 Business and Management Programs are ACBSP accredited. |