Airman's Roll Call: Summer's safety roll call

Historically, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is a period of high risk since people are heavily engaged in outdoor activities.

Sunny days, vacations and barbecues with family and friends significantly increase our exposure to risk. That's why in the early 1970's, Air Force leaders introduced the safety campaign called "101 Critical Days of Summer" as a way to raise safety consciousness and reduce the large number of Air Force off-duty fatalities during the summer.

From 1997- 2008, we lost an average of 24 Airmen each summer. Last year, 17 Airmen were fatally injured; five to motorcycle mishaps, four to automobile accidents, four to sports and recreational activities, three were pedestrians and one occurred while performing vehicle maintenance.

Now that warmer weather is here, we should keep the following themes in mind when planning activities:

Make safety a habit. Always wear your seatbelts and make sure your passengers wear theirs as well. So far this year, four fatalities were passengers in automobiles and one passenger was killed on a motorcycle. When riding motorcycles, scooters, ATVs or bicycles, and in other activities where there is a potential to impact immovable objects, wear all of your protective gear. Plan road trips well, take frequent rest breaks, and don't be in a hurry to reach your destination - it is better to arrive late than to not arrive at all.

Be a good Wingman. Don't drink and drive, offer to be the designated driver, and have the courage to intervene when you see behaviors or activities that might jeopardize the safety of your wingman. This means providing "top cover" to prevent injury or loss of life. A good Wingman has situational awareness and the courage to speak up!

Manage your risks. Prior to each activity or endeavor this summer, simply ask yourself: What am I doing? What can go wrong? Could I hurt myself or others? What actions can I take to reduce or eliminate the risk? Personal risk management is all about personal leadership.

Although last year was our one of our safest summers ever, we still lost too many Airmen to preventable mishaps. Throughout the summer, expect to be reminded of key safety tips through commander's calls, base newspapers, publications and supervisors. Use these tips to save lives.

For more information regarding Summer Safety, visit the Air Force Safety Center portal page and your local safety office.

Airmen are our most valuable resource. Let's stay safe this summer by maintaining situational awareness. Have the courage to intervene before a mishap occurs and save a life this summer!