Summer safety campaign begins                        Susanne Kappler  Leader Staff

Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season and the start of the Army’s “101 Critical Days of Summer” campaign. The campaign highlights the increased hazards caused by weather, travel and outdoor activities that typically occur during the summer months. “Memorial Day has the tendency to be one of the deadliest weekends of the year for traffic accidents,” said Sean O’Brian, Fort Jackson safety director.  O’Brian pointed out that there are steps Soldiers and civilians can take to stay safe during the travel season. The Travel Risk Planning System is an interactive risk-assessment tool, available online to Army Knowledge Online account holders at https://crc.army.mil. “TRiPS is mandatory for all Soldiers assigned to Fort Jackson any time they travel outside a 100-mile radius of the fort, but (it is) also highly encouraged for our civilian employees,” he said. In addition, O’Brian encouraged travelers to make sure their vehicles are safe. “The Safety Office has POV (privately owned vehicle) and motorcycle inspection checklists available,” he said. “We also offer a variety of safety briefings in addition to the anti-DUI based breathalyzer class.” The most recent Fort Jackson traffic fatality occurred April 4, 2006, when 1st Sgt. Robert Kuehne, 2nd Battalion, 485th Infantry Division, died following an off-post motorcycle crash. “It’s been over two years since our last vehicle fatality. Obviously we want to keep the streak alive, because if we keep the streak alive, we keep the people alive,” O’Brian said. Although road safety is a main concern during the “101 Critical Days of Summer,” it is not the only issue addressed by the campaign. “Although we tend to focus on traffic safety — it remains our greatest off-duty hazard — we don’t want to lose sight of water safety either,” O’Brian said. The Coast Guard has conducted inspections of all boats on Fort Jackson to ensure the safety of those who rent boats on the installation During fiscal year 2007, 15 Soldiers died in water-related accidents. Many boating fatalities can be prevented by wearing personal flotation devices, and swimmers should always stay in protected areas. O’Brian pointed out that while staying safe during summer activities should be a top priority to everyone, it is still possible to enjoy the season.  “Being safe does not mean that you can’t have any fun. Just have fun safely,” he said. “The goal is for everybody to come home alive.” For more information on the “101 Critical Days of Summer” safety campaign, visit https://crc.army.mil and view the summer safety presentation at https://crc.army.mil/ODSAP/. Susanne.Kappler1@us.army.mil