‘Critical Days of Summer’ off to a great start

by Gwen Dooley
Air Force Safety Center


KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. ― For the second consecutive year, the Air Force had zero mishap fatalities over the Memorial Day weekend.

Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest, the Air Force chief of safety, said he was pleased with these results, but he reminded Airmen of the need for continued vigilance throughout the remainder of the summer.

“We have a long way to go,” he said. “There are 15 weeks of summer, and we can never let our guard down. We’ll continue to provide mishap prevention strategies to our Airmen, our wingmen and our family members to help save lives during this Critical Days of Summer campaign.”

During the 2010 Critical Days of Summer Campaign, 16 Airmen lost their lives. Though that number was lower than the 2009 campaign when 22 Airmen lost their lives, the loss of one life is one too many.

Air Force Safety Center officials are preparing to unveil several initiatives during the remainder of the Critical Days of Summer campaign, including a poster slogan contest, a video contest and public service announcements to be broadcast in exchanges and commissaries on Air Force and Army installations worldwide.

Roberto Guerrero, the Air Force deputy chief of safety, said he invites everyone to follow the safety center’s activities on Facebook (Air Force Safety Center), Twitter (AFSAFETY), YouTube (Air Force Safety Center) and General Feest’s blog at http://
flysafe.dodlive.mil.

“We’re dedicated to doing all we can to save lives this summer,” he said. “‘Summer is Hot’ (the theme of this year’s campaign), and we’re actively working with commanders, supervisors, Airmen and their family members to team with us in our joint efforts to save lives.”