Many unit and directorate leaders educate the Fort Rucker community on winter hazards during the annual installation-wide Stand Down Winter Safety Campaign activities through Dec. 18.
Topics include Aviation safety issues, cold weather injuries, winter driving and travel, proper cooking methods and food poisoning, according to Sharon Manning, Aviation Branch Safety Office safety and occupational health specialist. Leaders also focus on mission-specific training and Soldier or employee demographics.
"It's a day to put extra emphasis on safety just to make everyone more aware," she said. "I think it gets people to think."
Manning said stand downs are conducted annually to supplement smaller training efforts throughout the year. Units' and directorates' members may conduct their stand downs separately or band together.
Commanders for 110th Aviation Brigade spearhead stand down training at the Ozark Civic Center Dec. 14 for the brigade's numerous units.
There, educators "focus on training of Aviation and organizational specific safety topics, Aviation safety and review of fiscal year 2009 Aviation and ground accidents," according to Brigade Safety Officer CW4 Keith Barker.
"It demonstrates the command's dedication to ensuring Soldiers and civilians integrate composite risk management into their daily lives," he said.
He noted the most common winter hazards here include privately owned vehicle accidents, sports injuries and sprains from normal activities. Barker said accidents have been reduced recently and attributes the falling numbers to safety training efforts.
About 2,500 flight school students will participate in the Dec. 14 training as well, CW3 Terry Weber, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment battalion safety officer, said.
While the unit stresses safety 365 days a year, the winter stand down offers an opportunity to focus on cold weather hazards and remind Aviators-in-training to exercise safety measures at all times.
"We need Soldiers to realize that safety is not just a one-day event ... but something that needs to be practiced every day both on duty and off," Weber said. "We, as leaders, need to change the mentality of safety being a day of classes that everyone has heard or seen before and focus on getting the Soldiers involved to make the right decision."
Keeping flight school students safe and ready to perform their training missions is essential to the unit's success, he said. Because of this, Weber added his training ensures all Soldiers' vehicles are inspected before the Christmas exodus - Dec. 19 through Jan. 3.
Along with Aviation hazards, he also focuses on motorcycle and holiday safety, cold weather injury prevention and unit programs like D.R.I.V.E. M.E. H.O.M.E. The program teaches Soldiers to have a designated driver through its motto, "Drinking Responsibly, I Vow to Execute My Extraction plan, Honoring Others both Morally and Ethically."
The winter safety campaign began last month, and some personnel got a jump on their training early.
Russ English, Plans, Analysis and Integration Office additional duty safety officer, performed privately owned vehicle inspections Nov. 25 for co-workers at Bldg. 6621. He checked for adequate tire tread, properly illuminated head and tail lights, worn windshield wipers, safe brakes and more.
"Providing this kind of service, especially during the holiday period, serves as an additional set of eyes for helping people take care of themselves," English said.
Preparing Fort Rucker Soldiers and civilian employees for winter takes time, but officials hope their efforts save lives and bring people back safely after the holidays to begin a successful 2010.
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