Photo By Rochelle Smolinski | Maj. Gerrard Fontenot gives a closing statement to Marines and sailors amid the...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Marine Aircraft Group 24 conducted a safety stand-down at Hale Koa Beach for firsthand safety information sessions, May 22.
Unit members rotated through several 25-minute stations highlighting topics such as the proper use of seafaring equipment, hiking safety measures and the dangers of driving while impaired.
Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy Miller, ground safety officer at MAG-24, said this is the second year MAG-24 has hosted their 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety Stand-down outdoors. Last year’s was held at Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s marina.
“A safety stand-down like this is important to have in an engaging setting instead of ‘death by PowerPoint,’” Miller said. “It really helps the Marines with information safety and prevention as a whole.”
This year, Miller and Maj. Chad Bignell, director of safety and standardization at MAG-24, ran nationwide statistics on drunk driving and every minute asked one attendee to wear an “Injured in an alcohol-related vehicle incident” sticker. Every 50 minutes, an attendee was chosen to wear a white T-shirt that read “DUI Fatality.”
The physical representations made visual just how many lives are affected by drivers operating vehicles while under the influence of alcohol.
Capt. Greg Hartfelder, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 liaison to MAG-24, was the first participant in the stand-down to wear the “DUI Fatality” shirt.
“I think it reinforces the reality of things,” Hartfelder said. “We lose too many to completely-preventable scenarios.”
Marines also got to experience a simulated drunk-driving course by pedaling bikes while their vision was jumbled by “beer” goggles. Marines were also briefed on water sport equipment, weather and ocean awareness, safety laws, and best practice instruction for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.
Pfc. Henry Rivera, aviation operations specialist with MAG-24, said he has never been kayaking before now.
“This is my first stand-down in Hawaii and I think it was really informative,” Rivera said. “They taught us what to do because if I didn’t know beforehand I could hurt someone.”
The unit reconvened before lunch for an information session with the Honolulu Fire Department which cautioned appropriate dress and packing adequate provisions while hiking Hawaii’s jungles. They also demonstrated rescue procedures they have performed for stranded and injured hikers.
Maj. Gerard Fontenot, Headquarters Company commander, volunteered for the helicopter rescue diaper demonstration.
“If I was in a rescue situation, I wouldn’t mind (the rescue diaper) at all,” Fontenot said. “I really appreciate what these guys do. I have a lot of respect for them, for their craft and their training.”
Fontenot became a “DUI fatality” toward the end of the stand-down.
The unit also gathered for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization’s Hawaii chapter executive director, Toni Muranaka, and guest speaker Traci Jacob, a trauma surgery amputee, to hear a recount of Jacob’s unhappy vehicular collision with a drunk driver.
Jacob suffered spine and head injuries and had to have her right arm surgically removed just below the elbow in a crash that occurred 30 years ago. She said she hopes the Marines make wise choices through prevention.
The stand-down went out with a Jaws of Life demonstration on a junked sedan. Rescuers took roughly 20 minutes to remove Rescue Randy, the Honolulu Fire Department’s rescue dummy, from the vehicle.
“With this event we are giving the Marines and sailors the tools required to manage risks typically associated with summer activities,” Bignell said. ”We aim to arm them with the tools necessary to make good decisions in an effort to preserve our most precious assets — our Marines and sailors.”
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2014 17:00 |
| Story ID: | 131693 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hands-on safety prepares service members for summer, by Rochelle Smolinski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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