2014 101 Critical Days of Summer wraps up with message of prevention

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - --  The Air Force's 101 Critical Days of Summer ended Labor Day, and Airmen continue to keep vigilance in mind and not become a victim of a preventable mishap.

This year's 101 Critical Days of Summer brought a total of 17 reportable mishaps, down from last summer's 22.

"Our purpose was to raise awareness over the summer to minimize or prevent mishaps," said Richard Knowles, 2nd Bomb Wing ground safety manager. "Our job is mishap prevention and how to mitigate risk."

Since mishaps translate to both personnel and financial loss to the Air Force, prevention is key to saving lives, time and money.

"...Safety is about vigilance," said Col. Kristin Goodwin, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. "It's about taking care of yourself and your Airmen. This means taking action before those accidents can happen. "

Mishaps have cost Barksdale more than $51,000 this year with three mishaps still under investigation.

Unfortunately, one of the highest risks to Airmen is in the parking lot.

"Riding in a car continues to be the most dangerous thing you can do on a daily basis," said Dr. Todd Thoma, Caddo Parish Coroner's Office. "You take for granted what happens to you in a car, which is a testimony to how well cars are built these days."

Furthermore, to reduce the risk of drunken driving, Team Barksdale is also encouraged to call Airmen Against Drunk Driving.

"We reduce alcohol-related incidents on Barksdale and the surrounding community and we do that through the use of volunteers," said Airman 1st Class Marcus Wiggins, AADD secretary. "Last year, we [brought home] 1,472 people. That's a testament to the impact we make."

From Jan. to Aug. 2014, AADD has already mitigated the risk of DUI for 688 members of Team Barksdale who have made the AADD hotline.

Sometimes, incidents result in the loss of life, as the Air Force has lost 27 personnel this year to mishaps.

"That's 27 Airmen that are no longer in units around our Air Force," Goodwin said. "Each one of you is valuable to our mission. You bring innovation. You bring diversity. You bring expertise at a very specific level so we are able to do our mission."