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Mishaps, fatalities peak during the summer

  • Published
  • By Capt. Nathan Broshear
  • 505th CCW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Today, the Air Force officially kicks off the 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign. 

This campaign spans a three-month period from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, a time that historically produces a significant increase in the number of on- and off-duty mishaps. The campaign spans three major holidays, the permanent change of station season, and best of all, added time spent with families since children are out of school. 

During the summer months, private motor vehicle mishaps and sports and recreation injuries are the top contributors to the mishap rate. Last year the 101 Critical Days of Summer had a series of mishaps that cost the 1st SOW $656,907 in addition to the irreplaceable loss of a fellow Air Commando during a boating accident. 

Proper use of Operational Risk Management can go a long way in reducing your risk and helping us achieve our goal of turning the 101 Critical Days of Summer into the "101 Mishap Free Days of Summer." However, we cannot achieve this goal unless every person in the wing embraces the basic principals of ORM. 

Remember that summer in Florida should be fun with an emphasis on spending time with family and friends. Here are some examples of how ORM can help you do that while staying safe. 

If you are planning to take a trip this summer, whether it's a short two-day trip or a three-week trip across country, ORM can help. Ask yourself these questions: Have I checked my car to ensure it's in good shape? Did I plan enough leave time to get to my destination and back? How long am I planning on driving each day? Did I remember to buckle my seatbelt? And don't forget about the young ones. Did I put them in a proper child safety seat? 

While this list is not all-inclusive, you get the idea. Common sense goes hand in hand with mishap prevention. In fact, good ORM is just the structured use of good old fashioned common sense. Think before you take risks and you'll succeed. 

The same can be said about injury prevention when participating in sports. Conditioning, warming up and stretching both before and after play, and knowing your limitations are all good examples of applying ORM. If you make a conscious effort to evaluate the risks associated with the activity you're planning to do, then you're applying the ORM principals correctly! If the risk outweighs the benefit, find another way to do it.