FORT STEWART, GA -- As the 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety campaign comes to a close, Fort Stewart hosted an installation-wide safety day for Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Soldiers and civilians, Aug. 26.
The 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety campaign strives to keep Soldiers and Families aware of safety issues during the critical days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, where Soldiers and Families are at a greater risk for accidents and mishaps.
The carnival-style atmosphere of the safety day included hands-on demonstrations and activities that emphasis summer safety as well as fun. Stewart-Hunter police allowed Soldiers to experience how three to four drinks can impair simple tasks, such as attempting to walk a straight line while wearing vision impaired goggles or "beer goggles."
Taking the impaired experience to higher level of intoxication was the Simulated Impaired Driving Experience, a go-cart in which Soldiers experienced the difficulty of driving while highly impaired.
The safety day also included demonstrations covering boating and hunting safety, motorcycle, and weapon handling safety provided by the Special Forces recruiters booth.
The Georgia Southern Wildlife Center provided a live animal show, showing the dangers of local wildlife.
"We brought four of the six venomous snakes indiginious to Georgia," said Jana Ashing, from the Georgia Southern Wildlife Center. "Having the live animals here allows Soldiers the opportunity to see them first hand in a safe environment, so they can hopefully recognize these creatures in the wild and have the knowledge to stay away from them."
In light of hurricane season, the Hurricane and Safety booth, a new addition to safety day, provided troops knowledge and safety tips to keep their Families informed of how to prepare for the possibility of natural disasters.
"The most important thing we want troops to learn is to have a plan," said Mark Hunt, Red Cross, Savannah Chapter, Liberty County Branch, program coordinator.
"If you are deployed, how are you going to be able to take care of your Family, if a disaster occurs," said Hunt. "To help answer these concerns we provide Soldiers with Family plan booklets, as well as provide information concerning evacuation routes, shelters, hurricane facts and check lists."
Also new to safety day was the Child Safety Seat booth, demonstrating proper installation of child seats, as well as providing child seats to Soldiers and Family if needed.
"You'd be surprised most people do not even know that child seats expire," said Debrah Morris, Liberty County Health Department. "Child seats are only designed to last up to six years, so those Families that keep them to reuse them later on are putting their children's safety in danger."
Editor's Note: Information in this article was provided by Sgt. Tanya Polk, 3rd Inf. Div. Public Affairs.
Social Sharing