Col. David Stewart, USAG Fort Belvoir commander, welcomes attendees to the annual Safety, Health, Wellness and Resiliency Expo, highlighting the 101 Cricital Days of Summer, which brings added risk and preventable injuries to Soldiers and their families.

Col. David Stewart, center, and CSM Brandon Creel, left, welcome a rider who stopped at a water station for Bike to Work Day. The day continued with a large Safety, Health, Wellness and Resiliency Expo at the PX parking lot, to remind everyone of the 101 Critical Days of Summer and the need to minimize summer activity risks

A motorcycle instructor performs safety checks on a bike during the Fort Belvoir Safety, Health, Wellness and Resiliency Expo, May 15. The morning-long event highlighted the 101 Critical Days of Summer and offered ways to mitigate many of the preventable risks associated with vacation activities.

FORT BELVOIR, VA – This time of year, is a complicated time for Army Families and military leadership, as the end of the school year approaches, and plans are made for road trips, days at the lake, cook-outs and more. But those very activities create a heightened risk for injuries and accidents due to increased recreational activities and potential lapses in judgment.

The 101 Critical Days of Summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend, is a military campaign to elevate awareness and encourage safe behavior while enjoying the long summer days. The Garrison Safety, Health, Wellness and Resiliency Expo, May 15, brought the community together in the PX parking lot to learn how to make summer a safer time for everyone, according to Bridget Pilgrim, Director, Fort Belvoir Garrison Safety Office (GSO).

“The Safety, Health, Wellness and Resiliency Expo allowed the Military and other community members to interact and receive information from Fort Belvoir personnel and the surrounding agencies to ensure a safe and healthy environment,” Pilgrim said.

Awareness started early Thursday morning, with a Bike to Work water stop at Fort Belvoir’s Walker Gate, off Mount Vernon Highway, which was one of dozens of stops scattered across the Military District of Washington. As an alternative to driving, many installation workers chose to boost fitness and reduce pollution with pedal-power.

Ruben Rudolph, wheeling up to the rest stop in a grey Space Force T-shirt, told the Belvoir Eagle that he rode in from his home, two miles north of the White House. Rudolph, who works for Command, Control, Communications Computers, Cyber Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) in the Night Vision compound, said the ride is a regular part of his commute.

“The ride is all right out here, but those last few miles in D.C. going home can be a little dicey,” he said. “Some drivers behave like they don’t know what a bike is, and they go into opposing lanes to go around me.”

After the morning commute, Col. David Stewart, Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander, welcomed more than 1,000 participants as they visited more than 50 vendors from the garrison, installation and community agencies.

“With the rising heat, increased travel and outdoor recreational activities, it’s important that we refresh that resiliency and safety mindset as head into summer,” Stewart said. “We want to ensure service members, civilians and families remain safe in everything they do, so enjoy this event.”

Over at the motorcycle training center, on 18th Street, was a brief – but important – gathering for riders to review safety protocols, share key information and ensure readiness for group riding. Instructors were on hand to ensure that bikes, helmets, jackets and other protective gear were in good working order.

Ronald Horne, a garrison Plans Specialist, coached several riders on the vital skill of low-speed maneuvering and sharp turns.

“These exercises are designed to reinforce skills such as proper head and eye placement, throttle and clutch control, braking techniques and overall situational awareness,” said Horne.

Whether on the road, the water, or just on a bike, it’s important to remember this is the most accident-prone season of the year, with a rise in preventable injuries and fatalities. Managing risk while having fun is vital to preserve readiness and effectiveness of the fighting force – both on and off duty. Every life and - every moment - matters.