CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Well folks, it's almost time for the "dog days of summer" again. We all know what this means, barbecues, trips to the beach and vacations, as well as many other outdoor activities.
For those of you who have not heard, on Aug. 8, 2005, President Bush signed legislation that changed the daylight savings time period as part of the energy conservation bill. How does this affect us? Instead of waiting until the second Sunday in April, we turned the clocks ahead on the second Sunday of March. Even though it won't "officially" be summer yet, these longer days will certainly make it feel like summer is here, and I for one am definitely ready for summer after this long, cold Charleston winter we have just endured.
You're probably wondering why I'm using this forum to discuss getting a jump start on summer. With summer comes the 101 critical days and with this usually comes an increase in safety related incidents. Wouldn't it be great if we could make it through this season with zero accidents? Realistically though, it probably won't happen. This is why I'm taking the opportunity now to talk to you about a few safety issues that are near and dear to me and hopefully get us all through this upcoming season with as few incidents as possible.
The Air Force is by nature a safety-oriented society. We practice safety in all we do. We learn from day one not to take unnecessary risks and to practice operational risk management. Although we have the occasional mishap, for the most part, we do things better, faster and safer than most organizations. But what happens when we go home after a long, hard day in the office or on the flightline? We all have different ways of unwinding and with fitness becoming a way of life in the Air Force, more and more people are getting off the couch and getting outside to participate in a variety of activities. Now, I joked earlier about the winters in Charleston, but in reality, the climate here is great for those who enjoy the great outdoors. It is how some of us enjoy the outdoors that concerns me.
Have any of you seen the X-games on television lately? It seems like extreme sports are the hottest thing around these days. I know a lot of the younger Airman reading this are thinking "this is where the old guy tells us we can't have fun anymore." However, I myself like to get out there and have some fun too. Every chance we get, my son and I head to the motocross track and tear it up. The thing is, while we are doing this, we wear every bit of protective equipment we can. This is where I see people making their first mistake. Regardless of what kind of sport or activity you are participating in, you can never have too much protection. How many times have you seen children skateboarding or riding a bike without a helmet on? I see it all the time and frankly, it sickens me. It only takes a split second for something to happen and the difference in not having a helmet on can be life or death. The second mistake I see people make is not knowing their limitations. The athletes we see on television are professionals with many years of practice and training. Just because you saw something on TV, don't think you can run right out and do it, the end result is usually not a very pleasant one.
The point I wanted to make is participate in the activities of your choice, but do it safely and smartly. If you have children, protect them by ensuring they wear the proper protective gear for the activities they do. Whether you have children or not, do the right thing and set the example by wearing your protective equipment and operating within your limits. All of you are valued members of Team Charleston and we rely on all of you every day for the successful completion of the missions we face. Please enjoy your free time this summer, but do it safely!