News

101 Critical Days reaches halfway mark, safety still paramount

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78 ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  As the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign reaches its halfway point, Robins' safety officials remind people that watching out for others' actions is an important part of ensuring one's own safety.

A recent motorcycle accident involving an officer in the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins illustrated that point.

"We had an individual assigned to Robins who was involved in a motorcycle accident July 3 late in the evening, probably right after the fireworks show," said Jerry Clineman, ground safety chief in the 78th Air Base Wing Safety office. "(He) was basically riding correctly (and) had all of his personal protective equipment on. He was a certified and a senior experienced rider who was struck by a car that pulled out from an intersection."

Jerry Morningstar, Robins' Motorcycle Safety Program manager, said even though motorcycle safety training is important, training alone can't guarantee freedom from mishaps.

Mr. Morningstar said being trained on proper motorcycle technique and safety is, however, one thing motorcyclists can do to cut the odds of an accident this summer.

"MSF courses are mandatory for anyone to ride on this base and they're mandatory for military period," he said, adding that riders learn valuable skills through the course to help prevent injury.

Motorcyclists aren't the only ones who need to take a proactive approach on the road, Mr. Clineman said.

"We've got to drive beyond our dashboard," he said. "I think a lot of times we're in the car and we're in our own little bubble or our own little environment and we forget to drive beyond the edge of the hood. We need to look forward and look around to predict what others might do."

Safety concerns are found off road as well.

"The Air Force has experienced two water-related fatalities during the 101 Critical Days of Summer," said Mr. Clineman. "One of them was the result of inexperience and not wearing a personal floatation device. The other individual, we believe, over extended his physical capabilities and upon trying to return to shore, didn't make it."

Mr. Clineman said exercising the wingman concept and taking a few minutes to use personal protective equipment would've prevented these mishaps.

David Decker, a 78th ABW Safety Office occupational safety and health manager, said while safety concerns are heightened during summer months, safety should be a year-round focus.

"We know that during the summer months there is always an increase in outdoor activities like swimming and boating, and with gas prices the way they are we have a lot of motorcycle operators," he said. "We need to keep our guard up, not just during the 101 Critical Days of Summer, but always because we could be sitting anywhere and somebody else could come out of nowhere."