Summer safety campaign wraps up

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steve Stanley
  • Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs
Langley AFB, Va. --  As summer wraps up and it becomes time to put away the jet skis and grills, it is important to remember that safety should remain a priority throughout the year.

The summer safety campaign is intended to remind us that we cannot afford to lose focus on safety while on or off duty.

Since Memorial Day we have covered tips on grilling, water sports,travel tips, fireworks, boating and a long list of other common summer outdoor activities. All of which provide their own checklists to provide personal safety. Remember this well-known saying; safety is as easy as ABC...Always Be Careful.

Intense planning often goes into making outdoor activities a success. Always remember to make responsible decisions while enjoying your time in the sun.

At the end of this season, concluding with Labor Day weekend, do not let your celebrations end on a bad note. The summer season is a dangerous time of year with notable increases in accidental fatalities and can be filled with tragedy instead of celebration.

Tragically, during this summer campaign season the Air Force lost 12 Airmen to both on and off duty accidental fatalities. Two of which were assigned to Air Combat Command. While this is statistically a lower average than normal, that still means that there were 12 lives lost and a countless number of others affected.

Not all accidents are the fault of the victim. Sometimes bad things just happen even if a person has done everything right up until that point. However, the vast of majority of on and off duty instances can be prevented by using such tools as operational risk management and the new Check 3 Risk Management concept.

This mindset instills the importance of risk management during all activities. If you identify the hazards before any operation or activity, you can reduce the chance of a mishap from occurring.

Safety in being prepared for any situation is part of the Air Force culture. It's up to all of us to make this a fun but safe season. As the Air Force's most important resource, Airmen need to always be ready. Safety, especially during the summer, is a key factor in accomplishing this.

Keep in mind this year's Air Force safety motto, "Risk: double checks, not second thoughts."