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With summer's arrival, keep safety,
potential risks in mind By Gen.
Donald Hoffman AFMC Warriors-- Summer weather is here and like many of you, I always look forward to this time of year because the days are longer and there are many outdoor activities to participate in. As a supervisor and commander, however, there is one thing I do not look forward to and that is the rise in injuries and deaths that come during this time. Recognizing the increased risks during this time, the Air Force has an awareness and safety campaign know as the "101 Critical Days of Summer" which runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Historically, 37% of our non-duty fatalities occur during this time even though it is only 28% of the year. Tragically, last summer sixteen of our Airmen did not return to their families. Sixteen members are no longer a part of our Air Force family. We could discuss in detail how these 16 Airmen passed in hopes that you would learn from their stories. I ask you instead to focus your thoughts and efforts on the next several months. Leaders and supervisors, continue to be 'intrusive' - find out what plans your folks have made, discuss the increased risks with certain activities, provide a safety focus from your perspective, set the example, reach out to your subordinates, especially our Airmen and civilians in high-risk categories. Continue to take the lead! Everyone, evaluate your activities, understand those that are high risk, and take steps to mitigate the chances or consequences of a mishap. These personal consequences, whether good or bad, also have an impact on the people around you and on the Air Force mission. Be a good Wingman - watch out for one another, recognize risky behavior, and have the guts to take action to keep someone from hurting themselves. There are several tools to help you combat the summer hazards. Key is Risk Management - available to you anytime and anywhere at no cost. Before beginning an activity, ask yourself: What can go wrong? Will this potentially hurt me or others? Do I have the proper training and equipment for this activity? What needs to be done to reduce or eliminate the danger? Finally, especially when driving - don't press! Don't speed or continue on when fatigued, remember to wear all appropriate personal protective equipment no matter the type of vehicle, and always drive defensively while being ready for someone to try to ruin your day. And always keep in mind: never, ever drink and drive. A recent fatality at Wright-Patterson highlighted that not all mishaps are the fault of the victim. One of our members was entering an intersection when a red-light runner broadsided her vehicle. Despite the protection of her seatbelt and airbags, she died and her passenger was severely injured. Unfortunately, practicing defensive driving techniques can only do so much and we must all maintain situational awareness. Never take the right of way for granted. The themes for this year's "101 Critical Days of Summer" campaign will focus on combating mishaps from private motor vehicles (four and two wheeled), water related sports and recreation, responsible alcohol use, and fatigue driven mishaps. Each week the AFMC Safety Directorate will emphasize a key area to focus on. Each installation safety office will tailor their programs their environment and population to keep the focus on saving the lives of our Airmen and civilians! Bottom Line: Mishaps are preventable - enjoy the summer but arm yourself to enjoy it safely! I have made a slight change to the Commander's Log format. From now on I will include an AFMC Initiative update, this time concerning the CSAF's Climate Study. Although the topics of the Log may not always coincide, the information is here to help you continue performing at top speed. AFMC Initiative Update: CSAF Climate Survey
AFMC's participation in the recent Air Force Climate Survey fell short of the Air Force goal. To many, the survey may seem like just another interruption to your work-filled days. However, it is the only tool available to capture feedback on your most critical issues and concerns. Your feedback is valuable to me, to all AFMC senior leadership and to the CSAF. While we do read every comment, your inputs remain anonymous. In order to ensure your feedback is incorporated into actionable improvement plans for the future, I have tasked my staff to develop a new approach to analyze responses and implement changes. In addition, a communication plan to improve the ease and accessibility of future surveys is being developed. I charge all of you to do your part and be engaged in the future of AFMC through implementation of changes and future survey participation.
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