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Stay safe this holiday season

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Champagne
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season and any people will spend time with their families, perhaps take a trip or catch up on household chores during their time off.

"Whatever their plan, we ask that they play it safe and make good decisions," said Col. Bill Hyatt, 20th Fighter Wing commander.

From Thanksgiving weekend through New Year's, the number of accidents among Air Force personnel rises due to excessive drinking, vehicle accidents and unsafe acts, said James Fowlkes, 20th Fighter Wing Safety occupational safety manager.

During this same time last year there were quite a few incidents that resulted in seven deaths throughout Air Combat Command.

"With all the holiday parties, people tend to drink excessively and drive. Another cause of accidents on the road is driving while tired," Mr. Fowlkes said. "A sleepy driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver."

The Thanksgiving holiday is a four-day weekend for most people. Unfortunately, some will try to drive long distances and over estimate how long they can drive, Mr. Fowlkes said.

"We recommend members use the travel risk matrix provided by our office to determine hazards and risk involved with long distance travel during the holiday season," he said. The matrix takes into consideration the types of roads to be traveled, the driver's mental state and driving experience, and weather conditions.

"For example, if you are going to be traveling for eight hours it will determine that you will need to include rest stops every two to three hours. It is significant to include many rest stops to prevent fatigue while driving long distances," he said.

It also evaluates proper rest before traveling. It recommends having at least eight hours of uninterrupted rest.

Additionally, a lot of members are away from their families and they may drink excessively or feel depressed and participate in unsafe acts.

Mr. Fowlkes offers this advice to reduce incidents this holiday season: "Supervisors should look out for their subordinates and make sure no one spends the holidays alone," he said.

"While enjoying your time off, remember to be a good wingman. Think of our families of deployed members and others who may be alone," Colonel Hyatt said.