“Stay Alert, Don’t Get Hurt” Published May 23, 2007 By Roger Drinnon Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command's safety campaign for the 101 Critical Days of Summer runs May 25-Sept. 3 with the slogan "Stay Alert, Don't Get Hurt." The effort is in support of the Air Force-wide campaign, which runs annually to inform Airmen of the increased potential for fatalities and mishaps during the summer months. "Our members need to actively manage risks relating to their summer activities to avoid becoming a statistic," said Wayne Bendall, AMC Occupational Safety and Health Specialist. "Failure to do so could lead to unwanted results." Mr. Bendall said those unwanted results include vehicle-related fatalities. "Of the 18 fatalities the Air Force experienced in Fiscal Year 2006, 11 were the result of motor vehicle accidents," he explained. "The major causal factors continue to be excessive speed and drinking and driving, and failure to use seatbelts." Air Force figures for FY05 were much higher; 18 of 29 fatalities were vehicle-related. Of the five deaths that year in AMC, four were vehicle-related. Mr. Bendall said last year's AMC statistics for fatalities and mishaps among its servicemembers were significantly lower than previous years. "Last season's statistics were the lowest in recent memory," he said. "Unfortunately, there was one fatality and one permanent total disability, and both were vehicle-related. In addition to these two mishaps, AMC personnel experienced 764 lost workdays - meaning an average of 7.5 people missed work each day of the campaign," he continued. "Almost half (318 of the lost workdays) were the result of motor vehicle mishaps, with poor risk assessment identified as a common causal factor in many of them." "It's clear that we need to focus our 101 Critical Days mishap prevention efforts on traffic safety," added Johnny Wood, chief of AMC's ground safety division. "The key to reducing the number of mishaps and reaching our goal of zero fatalities in 2007 is each individual accepting and fulfilling their critical role as a 'wingman.' Many of our recent vehicle mishaps could have easily been prevented if the wingman involved had seized the opportunity to stop their friend or coworker from placing themselves in harm's way." Mr. Bendall said the keys to avoiding accidents are knowledge, preparation and situational awareness. "Do all you can to prepare your people for the days ahead," said Mr. Bendall. "Make sure you are aware of the hazards pertaining to each activity you might undertake, so you can make educated risk management decisions. The key is not to underestimate the hazards."
