Summer is here, keep safety in mind

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The sun is setting and the sky is bursting with colors slowly fusing together. Under the Louisiana sunset rests a B-52H Stratofortress, its shadow provides shade for the sweat-soaked Airmen working underneath. The Airmen have been working for 11 hours and still have more to go to complete their mission.

Completely drained, one Airman crosses the flightline back to the hanger for a quick 15-minute break. He enters the break room and swings open the refrigerator door. The Airman surveys the selection and reaches past a bottle of water to grab an energy drink. He pops the top and chugs the beverage. Shortly after, he walks out to the flightline to finish the job. Moments pass and the Airman's supervisor begins to question where the Airman has gone. As he walks around the tail section of the aircraft, he notices red lights in the distance...an ambulance has been called to the flightline.

Summer is here. Kids are out of school, Airmen are taking leave for cacations and the grills are fireing up. The 101 critical days of summer have begun. Why are these days so critical?

Due to increased outdoor activities mixed with traveling and high temperatures, summertime is the peak season for mishaps according to Staff Sgt. Jeremy Gavidia, 2nd Bomb Wing Safety office.

Mishaps can occur both on- and off-duty. According to Sergeant Gavidia, the Air Force and the Department of Defense has put together a campaign to raise awareness and lower the frequency of mishaps.

According to Barksdale's Safety office's first half of the 2011 Safety statistics, on-duty mishaps can happen due to various reasons. However, 98 percent of on-duty mishaps occur due to human error, which is primarily caused by complacency and fatigue.

According to Staff Sgt. Ashley Johnson, 2nd Bomb Wing Safety office, off-duty mishaps occur more often during the summer months. Some mishaps can occur from boating, outdoor activities, traveling or grilling.

Technical Sgt. William Richardson, 2nd Bomb Wing Safety office, recommends that when grilling outdoors with a gas grill, make sure to check the hoses and tubing for any blockage or cracks in the tubing. If any leaks are found, turn off the gas from the tank and do not attempt to light the grill. Also, when cooking with a gas grill, do not smoke or allow others to smoke near the grill as a fire precaution.

"Charcoal grills should never be brought indoors or in confined spaces, because the burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide gas, which if inhaled in large amounts, could cause death," Sergeant Richardson added. "It is also recommended not to grill while consuming alcohol."

To beat the heat, many Airmen and their families venture off to pools or large bodies of water to cool off.

"Never leave children alone in any body of water," Sergeant Richardson said. "If you are boating, make sure the child's life vest fits properly. Inflatable swimming aids should never be used as a substitute for a life vest and do not allow children to swim in swift-moving water. When swimming in open water areas, ensure you keep within one arms length away from your child, this technique is known as 'touch supervision.' Never swim alone...even the most advanced swimmers should swim with a buddy."

During the summer months, high temperatures make dehydration and heat stress another factor in the equation.

"Sometimes energy drinks or sodas are consumed to help fight fatigue and raise awareness," Sergeant Gavidia said. "These beverages can dehydrate you even more, especially if you are working outside or in a hot, enclosed space. Dehydration, heat stress and heat strokes are all mishaps that can occur from not drinking enough water."

The Airman's supervisor sprints towards the ambulance and asks the paramedics what happened, but before the paramedic could reply, another Airman chimes in, "he passed out." The paramedic explains that the Airman is dehydrated and needs to be taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

Summer is here and hydrating is just one of the many safety concerns that everyone should keep in mind.

"Our mission is keeping Airmen safe and keeping everybody healthy, so they can support the mission," concluded Sergeant Johnson.

To find out more information about summer safety, contact the 2nd Bomb Wing Safety office at 456-2568.