Safety day preceeds 101 Critical Days of Summer

RAF Mildenhall fire fighter Simon Law shows the immediate results of pouring water on a grease fire during a safety demonstration May 19. The fire was part of a mostly hands-on safety education event held to prepare Team Mildenhall for the upcoming 101 Critical Days of Summer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin M. May)

Safety day preceeds 101 Critical Days of Summer

Tech. Sgt. Jason Peck, 100th Security Forces Squadron, drives a golf cart while wearing goggles designed to simulate the effects of drinking while Airman 1st Class Michelle Robinson, 48th Medical Support Squadron, acts as a safety spotter. The simulation was part of a half-day event to highlight safety for the upcoming 101 Critical Days of Summer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin M. May)

RAF Mildenhall takes day to focus on safety

Published May 19, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
100th Air Refueling Wing public affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- With the 101 Critical Days of Summer rapidly approaching, Team Mildenhall set its focus on safety with an intense, hands-on campaign May 19.

According to Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Blount, 100th Air Refueling Wing safety office, more servicemembers are lost to accidents during the summer months than any other time of the year.

The sergeant coordinated the half-day event to provide a hands-on learning environment where participants could safely experience several different hazardous scenarios, such as drinking and driving and grease fires. The event was put on in conjunction with the United States Air Forces in Europe Safety Road Show.

"The intent of this event was to provide enough information so that people can make informed, safe decisions this summer," Sergeant Blount said. "It's hands-on, which gets the message across better than a slide show presentation."

Although there was a slide show presentation associated with the event, it wasn't the typical statistics and helpful hints lecture often leading off the 101 Critical Days of Summer. Instead, the USAFE Safety Road Show team's presentation mixed humorous videos and skits with a serious, somber message.

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Magee, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, who barely survived an accident with a drunk driver, recounted his story of the incident and pleaded with the audience to think about their decisions.

Interactive displays were put together by the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, RAF Mildenhall fire department, Ministry of Defense police, Airmen Against Drunk Driving, and Accidon't. Participants were able to see the immediate effects of pouring water on a grease fire, learn how difficult it actually is to drive while drunk and see the fire department's extrication tools in action.