As the holidays approach, you will likely see an increase in the number of safety briefings and messages in an effort to reduce or eliminate mishaps; and it’s important for you to do your part to safely ring in the New Year.
As you plan your holiday activities, incorporate safety precautions and risk assessments along with travel, meals and fun.
“Since mishaps often result in injury to personnel and damage or loss to Air Force resources, reducing mishaps is essential to mission readiness,” said Senior Master Sgt. Alfredo Benavides, Twenty-Fifth Air Force superintendent of occupational safety. “To help reduce mishaps, Air Combat Command produced the Check 3 risk management campaign.”
Check 3 provides three general areas to assess before embarking on an activity. These are referred to as GPS, or gear, plan and skills.
“The purpose of Check 3 GPS is for us to stop and ask ourselves three quick questions before engaging in an activity: Do I have the right Gear? Do I have a Plan? Do I have the right Skills?” Benavides said. “With Check 3 GPS in mind, Airmen can apply risk management skills they learned through their on-duty activities and training to their off-duty activities.
“By applying risk management to both on- and off-duty activities, we as an Air Force can reduce or eliminate mishaps that could result in injuries to personnel or damage to resources.”
One of the greatest risks during the holidays is travel. Many people choose to travel by automobile, the mode of transportation with the highest fatality rate according to the National Safety Council.
“In 2015, 355 people died on New Year's Day, 386 on Thanksgiving Day and 273 on Christmas Day,” according to the Council’s 2017 fact sheet. Alcohol-impaired fatalities represent about one-third of those deaths.
To avoid being a statistic, plan in advance to use a designated driver to ensure everyone gets home safely. When in a vehicle, make sure everyone wears a seatbelt, no matter how long or short the trip.
If you are driving, avoid distractions, pay attention to the road and get plenty of rest before your journey. Put your cell phone away and prepare yourself for long waits in heavy, holiday traffic. Also, be sure your vehicle is ready for the trip and keep an emergency kit handy.
Another hazard of the holidays could be food poisoning. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers several food safety tips for holiday cooking:
•Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking
•Use a food thermometer to make sure meat is cooked to a safe temperature
•Refrigerate food within two hours
•Holiday leftovers should be safe for four days in the refrigerator
•Bring sauces, soups and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating
•When storing turkey, cut the leftovers in small pieces so they will chill quickly
•Wash your hands frequently when handling food
A big part of holiday celebrations are the decorations, trees and presents; but remember, some of these items can cause injuries or fires. Twelve percent of all home candle fires occur in December according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The increased use of candles and fireplaces during the winter months, combined with the increase in the amount of combustible, seasonal decorations, puts many homes at more risk for fire. You should never leave burning candles unattended or sleep in a room with a lit candle; and always keep candles out of reach of children. Make sure your candles are on a stable surface and never burn them near trees, curtains or other flammable items.
Lastly, don’t be tempted to burn holiday trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the fireplace.
For more holiday safety tips, visit https://www.cdc.gov/family/holiday/index.htm
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.08.2019 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 306437 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Plan ahead, assess risks for safe holiday season, by Lori Bultman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
