NATICK, Mass. (June 4, 2013) -- The Natick Soldier Systems Center conducted its Summer Safety Day May 30.
"The main reason we have the safety day is to raise awareness of some of the hazards normally associated with seasonal activities that we do," said Installation Safety Manager Scott McPherson. "We look at our employees as assets to the Army, and each one has a small role in making our mission successful."
Prior to the safety presentation, Lt. Col. Frank Sobchak and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Beausoleil placed the Army Safety Excellence streamer on the garrison guidon. The streamer recognizes organizations and individuals for their achievements in the safety arena.
"The safety streamer is really the embodiment of all of the hard work from everyone throughout the garrison," Sobchak said. "It means people are doing three things consistently: They're applying common sense, they are thinking ahead, and they're looking out for each other."
During his presentation to Natick employees, Marc Nerino, president and senior technical trainer at Tiger Training Company, stressed the importance of boat and water safety.
Inexperienced swimmers should take precautions such as "wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device number 160 when around water," Nerino said.
It is also important to remember that boating and drinking never mix. Receiving an infraction on the water weighs just the same as receiving an infraction in your vehicle.
"Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in," Nerino added. If unsure of your surroundings, Nerino suggested speaking with locals to make certain you know which places are "no-swim" areas.
You should also be on the lookout for aquatic life, as water plants and animals may be dangerous.
Switching gears from water to land, heavy emphasis was also placed on using grills and food safety.
"Approximately 30 people are injured every year as a direct result of gas grill fires," Nerino said.
Before using your grill, make sure to check all tubes leading into the grill burner for any blockage.
Each year 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths occur because of food-borne disease.
If using an ice cooler, it is imperative to always make sure you have plenty of ice, and foods that need to be kept cold, are cold enough prior to cooking.
The event also informed Soldiers and civilians about heat-stress injuries and prevention, aquatic safety, and home preparedness.
For more information on summer safety, you can go to the Army's safety homepage at https://safety.army.mil.
After the safety day presentation, booths and displays by vendors as well as outside agencies offered more information about eyewear and life jacket safety.
Participants also received information about different activities at the Gibson Outdoor Pool, and courtesy motorcycle inspections were performed.
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