Defending the Human Weapon System
By MS. LISA GONZALES, AIR FORCE SAFETY CENTER
The 101 Critical Days of Summer (CDS) begins on Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day weekend. During this timeframe Airmen and Guardians tend to participate more in outdoor activities, take time to travel, barbeque with friends, and explore new things over a season that has historically come with a higher risk of danger.
This year the Air Force Safety Center is reinvigorating the 101 Critical Days of Summer with off-duty risk management materials created to educate Airmen and Guardians on the risks associated with summer activities. This year’s theme will be “See Something, Do Something … Live to be Lethal.†The use of risk management is not only for on-duty, but belongs in our daily lives to be used to defend the Human Weapon System, you, from unnecessary threats that could result in injury or even death.
Reaching the goal of zero mishaps and fatalities begins with every Airman and Guardian. Over the past 10 summers, 2013–2022, beginning the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, there have been 134 unnecessary fatalities off-duty. The top three riskiest activities were four-wheeled motor vehicles (47 fatalities), followed by motorcycles (41 fatalities), and water-related activities and sports (19 fatalities). One Airman or Guardian lost to a preventable mishap is one too many.
Additionally, there is a new trend showing a growing number of e-bike and e-scooter mishaps. E-scooters and e-bikes provide a convenient and easy way of getting around in a crowded city, and they are compact, lightweight, and environmentally friendly, but they can also be dangerous if not used with the proper training and the right personal protective equipment (PPE). Just like any motorized vehicle, you should always follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines when it comes to use and PPE.
Summer is a time to enjoy the warm summer days with family and friends, not spend time in the emergency room, or worse, mourning the loss of a loved one, friend, or co-worker. It is a time to be committed toward reducing the chance of disaster simply by speaking up before it happens.
According to the National Safety Council, an average of 17,503 people died every summer between 2016 and 2020 on roadways across the United States. Do not be one of those statistics. Prepare for your trip by getting your vehicle checked out, plan ahead to combat inclement weather and fatigue, and ensure that an emergency kit is included with your bags, stocked with vehicle supplies, extra water, food, batteries, and a phone charger.
Motorcycle riders should be 100 percent trained, prepared, and equipped with the required skills and proactive mindset to ride safely. In the first 4 months of fiscal year 2023 alone, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) experienced seven motorcycle fatalities. The leading cause of those fatalities pointed to the lack of risk management, speeding, and alcohol.
“Enjoy your summer, but do it responsibly,†said William Walkowiak, Chief of Occupational Safety for the Department of the Air Force. “I challenge each of you to make a risk assessment before participating in summer activities to prevent or mitigate injuries or deaths.â€
On their website, the World Health Organization states that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7 percent of all injury-related deaths.
Water activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming can cool you off, but one wrong decision could cost you or someone you know anything from injury to death. Remember to always use a life jacket around the water, do not drink and boat or swim, always keep an eye on small children, and make sure they wear life jackets.
Summer days can become extremely hot, and heat cramps, stroke, or exhaustion can happen quickly. Be prepared if you spot someone in trouble. Get them out of the sun, cool them down by applying water, cool air, wet sheets, or ice on the neck, groin, or armpits. Seek medical attention immediately.
Stay hydrated this summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that an average adult loses about two and a half quarts of water each day. Water helps your body lubricate and cushion joints, protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements. Drinking approximately eight to 12 glasses of water throughout the day will help the body stay hydrated. If you plan to be outside in the sun, consider drinking more. Dehydration can happen before you know it. Know the signs: headaches, nausea, dry skin, and muscle or joint soreness are just a few.
It is imperative that Airmen and Guardians implement proper off-duty risk management in every activity they engage in during the 101 CDS and beyond.
Go to the Air Force Safety Center’s summer webpage for more tips at https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Occupational-Safety-Division/Summer-Safety/.