CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Summertime in sunny Charleston ... yeah! The weather is gorgeous, the kids are out of school and you must absolutely take that use or lose leave, so this is the time to let your hair down a little and play hard, right?
While there is nothing wrong with taking that well deserved "me time," we still need to air on the side of caution always, but especially during these critical 101 days of summer.
Year after year from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a high risk of off-duty related injuries caused by increased activity and risk-taking occurs. So in the early 1970s, the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign evolved to raise awareness as well as reduce the large number of Air Force injuries and fatalities in these summer months.
Recreational sports are now the No. 1 cause of injury within Air Mobility Command. Young men between the ages of 18 and 25 are most at risk for injury or death.
When participating in physical training, stay hydrated with plenty of electrolytes in your system. As we go through the rest of August, typically one of the hottest months in the summer, let's continue to be vigilant of any extreme weather conditions to avoid heat exhaustion as well as protecting your skin with the proper sun protection factor for your outdoor activity.
I can tell you I am not in the 18-25 age range any more -- barely, I might add -- but, nonetheless, I still try to get out there and hack golf balls on the weekends in the sweltering heat, so hydration is a must. The common sense approach is one that we must take obviously. If you know you are not the next greatest athlete with a professional contract, don't overextend yourself showing people what you used to do back in the day. Everyone cannot be like Mike. Stretch those muscles before and after working out. There is nothing wrong with a little personal risk management.
Recreational sports might be the No. 1 threat of injury in AMC, but the biggest threat during the 101 Critical Days of Summer is personal motor vehicles. Motor vehicles are the No. 1 cause of Air Force fatalities. These include motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and automobile accidents. Speeding, driving under the influence, failure to wear seat belts and late night fatigue are all contributing causes of fatal accidents.
I remember vividly riding with my dad as a child and sitting in the passenger seat with my foot pressing down on the floor wishing there was a brake there to slow this man down. We all have been in a car with someone like that before or have been guilty of being that driver on the other side. Remember to arrive alive. It is better to be a little late getting to your destination than to not arrive at all.
Don't forget 0-0-1-3, either! Zero drinks for those under 21, zero driving under the influence, one maximum drink per hour and three maximum drinks per night. Fatigue driving is just as dangerous. Your reaction time is reduced immensely, along with diminished alertness. These adverse reactions to fatigue driving show a similar resemblance to a driver under the influence of alcohol. Remember, we want to ultimately arrive at our destination safely, so plan in advance with the necessary rest.
While summer is a beautiful season filled with adventurous and thrilling activities here in sunny Charleston, one mishap can turn that time into tragedy. Let's use some personal risk management to take care of ourselves and each other.
May you all have a continued safe rest of the summer.