Team Mildenhall gets ready for 101 Critical Days of Summer program

  • Published
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety Office
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign will begin on  May 23, Memorial Day weekend, and continue through  Sept . 1, Labor Day. 

U.S. Air Forces in Europe Safety will be here  May 14 to present a series of road shows to help kick off the campaign. These will be mandatory for 100th Air Refueling Wing members; partner units are welcome to attend.  

The 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign is an Air Force wide campaign that began in the late 1960s to counter the traditional increase in Air Force mishaps and fatalities that occur during the summer months. 

This year, RAF Mildenhall will start its base campaign slightly earlier than the Air Force with a pre-101 Critical Days of Summer road show presentation by the USAFE Safety team. 

The following are the times and locations: 

7:30 - 08:30 a.m. - RAFM Base Theater **
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. - RAFM Base Theater **
11 a.m - noon - RAFM Base Theater **
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Building 809. Operations Group Conference Room 

** A shuttle bus will run between the south side at the Hardstand Fitness Center and the theater for each of the morning shows at the theater. 

Immediately after the morning shows, in the parking lot directly behind the theater, the fire department will be wrecking some cars with volunteer Airmen inside demonstrating using the "Jaws of Life". 

Additionally, representatives from Airman Against Drunk Driving  will be sponsoring the "Fatal Vision" experience educating Airmen on how alcohol can affects ability. 

In other words, Airmen will get a chance to drive Gators around the 100 ARW track (as well as other activities) while wearing "drunk goggles" in varying strengths from .08 to .20 simulated BAC. 

Our focus is to make this event as entertaining as possible. 

During last year's campaign the Air Force experienced 19 deaths, up from 17 in fiscal 2006. As in past years, motor vehicle fatalities accounted for the majority of Air Force fatalities. 

Fortunately RAF Mildenhall suffered no fatalities in the past two campaigns, but we did see an increase in mishaps from six in 2006 to seven in 2007. Our goal is to increase personal awareness of risk and reduce our number of mishaps to six or fewer with zero fatalities during the 101 Critical Days of Summer. 

As the summer continues you will see a number of other activities from sponsored motorcycle rides to child safety seat checks to sporting events designed to support safety initiatives and help reduce the number of injuries and mishaps we see during the 101 Critical Days of Summer. 

For any questions or suggestions concerning this program please contact 100 ARW Safety at 238-2255.