With the school year done and National Safety Month beginning, children will be running to playgrounds instead of school yards and riding bikes instead of buses. With all of the fun that summer brings it can also present new safety challenges. The Fort Detrick Installation Safety Office reminds members of the Fort Detrick community to take extra safety precautions during the summer months.
According to the local chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions, teen drivers spend 44 percent more time behind the wheel during summer months. During this time, teens are also 23 percent more likely to drive with three or more friends in the car, compared to 6 percent during the school year. Additionally, 72 percent of teens report that they stay out later during the summer than the school year.
SADD is a peer-to-peer education, prevention, and activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving, teen violence, and teen suicide.
“The more kids that are in the car, the more erratic the driving becomes. The driver is not focused the way they should be,” said Fort Detrick Safety Technician Charles Harriday. “A head on collision at just 10 miles per hour could be fatal, especially for someone not wearing a seatbelt. Distracted driving is such a big deal. I don’t think there is enough we can do to make people understand how important this is.”
During the month of June, the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center is encouraging leaders, Soldiers, family members and Army civilians to evaluate safety at their unit, as well as on a personal level.
“Off duty, Soldiers and family members should think about what they can do to stay safe, whether it’s slowing down on the road, always wearing seatbelts or ensuring guests in their homes have a designated driver if needed,” said Strategic Communications Director Art Powell of USACR/SC.
Dangers are not only a concern on the roadways. According to Harriday, supervision of young children during any type of water activity is equally as important.
“Young children should always be supervised. All it takes is a pail with two inches of water for a deadly accident to happen with a young child,” Harriday said.
He emphasized that no one, including adults, should ever swim alone. Swimmers should know their limits and skill level to better understand what they can and cannot do in the water.
Other activities with potential hazards include playgrounds and even riding a bike. Playground equipment should be inspected prior to child use and parents should be aware of the ground surfaces. Appropriate surfaces on a playground include wood chips, wood fibers, mulch, sand, shredded tires and rubber mats, according to the National Safety Council.
The NSC also encourages parents to not allow children under the age of four to climb on playground equipment, especially horizontal ladders. Due to the number of injuries, NSC experts have recommended that they be removed from all playgrounds.
“Kids want to be out enjoying themselves, but parents need to set rules for their kids. They also need to make sure their kids know and obey the rules,” Harriday said.
When riding a bicycle, Maryland law requires any child under the age of 16 to wear a properly fitted helmet.
“If the helmet does not fit properly, it will not protect an individual’s head the right way in the event of an accident,” Harriday said.
According to the National Safety Council, a properly designed helmet has four characteristics:
1. A stiff outer shell designed to distribute impact forces and protect against sharp objects.
2. An energy-absorbing liner at least one-half inch thick.
3. A chin strap and fastener to keep the helmet in place.
4. A lightweight, cool comfortable fit.
NSC safety specialists also recommend that bike riders of any age wear clothing that will allow them to be seen, in addition to having reflectors on both the front and back of bicycles.
Harriday said that summer safety comes down to doing a risk assessment for each activity individuals participate in.
“Our message to you is always do a risk assessment for your activities. Identify what you are doing, what is involved with the activity and identify potential hazards so you can be prepared,” Harriday said. “This is about awareness and accountability. We need to keep ourselves safe as much as our families.”
For more information about summer safety, contact the Fort Detrick Safety Office at (301) 619-7318 or visit the National Safety Council’s website at www.nsc.org.
- Always wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle.
- Never operate a vehicle distracted or under the influence.
- Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
- Always wear protective gear, including a helmet, when riding on a motorcycle.
- Obey the speed limit.
- Always follow all safety precautions for handling and storing privately owned weapons.
- Follow safety precautions when in the water and when doing extreme sports.
- Never dive into an unfamiliar body of water.
- Always wear a life vest when boating.