USAG Ansbach hosts Summer Safety Day

By USAG Ansbach Safety OfficeJuly 2, 2014

Summer Safety Day
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Summer Safety Day
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Summer Safety Day
3 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – "Decibella," a mannequin equipped with a dosimeter, and supplied by the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Industrial Hygienist, gives members of the USAG Ansbach community a chance to test smartphones or digital listening devices to measure the sound level ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Summer Safety Day
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Summer Safety Day
5 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Iesha Richards, center, prevention coordinator and employee assistance program coordinator for the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Army Substance Abuse Program, leads a member of the Bayerisches Rotes Kreuz through motions and activities while he wears go... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Summer Safety Day
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Summer Safety Day
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Summer Safety Day
8 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Iesha Richards, center, prevention coordinator and employee assistance program coordinator for the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Army Substance Abuse Program, leads a member of the Bayerisches Rotes Kreuz through motions and activities while he wears go... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Summer Safety Day
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ANSBACH, Germany (July 2, 2014) -- A proactive safety program requires work, time and energy. Maintaining safety awareness among the 500-plus personnel that make up the garrison workforce is no easy task, and hosting seasonal safety days is one means of sustaining safety awareness.

On June 27, USAG Ansbach hosted its Summer Safety Day in and around Duggan Gym at Barton Barracks.

The seasonal event was a collaboration of various installation agencies, host-nation safety and occupational agencies, and private-sector firms. The safety day held in the morning was aimed at garrison employees, while the afternoon safety fair was open to all installation personnel and their families.

"The event was held to sustain safety awareness and provide the opportunity for our members to get familiar with the capabilities of the local emergency services within the area," said Manfred Meyer, safety specialist with the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Safety Office.

The event began with briefings from Katterbach Army Health Clinic, the Occupational Health Nurse, the American Red Cross and the garrison safety staff on a variety of topics including lifting safety, hot weather injury prevention, tick prevention and treatment, automatic external defibrillator and CPR familiarization, hearing conservation and general summer safety tips such as water safety and distracted driving.

After the briefings, attendees participated in a safety fair which consisted of displays, attractions and demonstrations from installation and host-nation safety and occupational health agencies. There was something for almost everyone at the fair.

The USAG Ansbach Industrial Hygienist provided "Decibella," a mannequin equipped with a dosimeter, which allowed members to test their smartphones or digital listening devices to measure the sound level at which they routinely listen to their music.

The Bayerisches Rotes Kreuz, or BRK, displayed their rough-terrain and street emergency response vehicles, and answered questions on their capabilities.

The Polizei were also on hand and provided a patrol car and their recovery diver support vehicle. They were inundated with questions about driving under the influence, capabilities of their patrol cars, and general traffic safety questions.

"My family and I visited every display, but I really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the Polizei," said Manual Melendez, USAG Ansbach security specialist.

ADAC provided a rollover simulator, a Segway vehicle and, in coordination with a local car dealer, a child safety seat clinic.

"I really like the rollover simulator," said Gerald Bauer of the Resource Management Office. "It reinforced the need to always buckle up to avoid serious injury in a car crash, especially those resulting in a vehicle rollover."

DEKRA provided their Gulliver inflatable vehicles to demonstrate to an adult the limited vision a child has when in traffic conditions. Participants who visited the booth received a reflective vest for each vehicle to meet the new traffic safety law that mandates each vehicles be equipped with a reflective vest.

The USAG Ansbach Fire Department provided a Jaws of Life demonstration and a smoke generator simulator.

"The smoke generator simulates conditions of being in a smoke-fill room during a fire and reinforces to members the need the importance of having a fire evacuation plan and how to escape in low-visibility situations," said Stefan Groetschel, fire chief.

The American Red Cross provided hands-on demonstrations of CPR/AED, while the Army Substance Abuse Program staff allowed participants to use their "fatal vision" goggles to simulate impairment.

Additionally, the Safety Office sponsored a tire safety clinic and contest. Joseph Lanier, ACS event coordinator, and Peter Prause, a construction inspector with the Directorate of Public Works, both won the tire safety challenge and donated prizes by answering questions about subjects like tire inflation, speed rating and load index, which all affect the safety performance of vehicles.

The military working dog unit was also at the event and provided an opportunity for visitors to pet a retired patrol dog. The unit gave a patrol dog demonstration, which won the hearts of many of the children in attendance.

"The event really outdid my expectations," said Mohamad Alkadri, operations specialist assigned to the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. "It was well-organized, interesting and I learned a few new things."

"Our goal," said EJ Singleton, safety manager, "was to make it informative, engaging, interactive and fun for our members, while delivering the summer safety message."

Related Links:

Bayerisches Rotes Kreuz

American Red Cross

Katterbach Army Health Clinic

US Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center