Safety Fair kicks off 101 Days of Summer Safety campaign

By Ms. Joan B Vasey (Huachuca)May 4, 2016

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Damie Meyer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade, participates in a "texting while driving" simulation during the 2014 Safety Fair. The Fort Huachuca and local community are invited and encouraged to ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Sandy Adams, Teena Smith and Shana Davis, Electronic Proving Ground, visit the Friends of the San Pedro River's table during the 2014 Summer Safety Fair at Barnes Field House. Learn about various aspects of indoor and outdoor safety during... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Gordon Lewis, Network Enterprise Technology Command, Mason Hooper, 6, Elizabeth Hooper and Braeden Steele, 11, learn about unexploded ordnances from Scott Miller, Training Division chief, Range Operations, Directorate of Plans, Training, M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Fort Huachuca Safety Fair set for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 4 at Barnes Field House will kick off the annual 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety campaign, and the Fort Huachuca and local communities are welcome and encouraged to attend the free event.

The "critical days" begin Memorial Day weekend and run through Labor Day. During that period, the number of accidents tends to increase as Soldiers and their Families focus on being outdoors. Some activities include barbecuing, swimming, boating and traveling to various destinations for summer vacations.

The U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and U.S. Army Garrison Safety Offices will use this opportunity to promote workplace and community safety by providing educational, fun and relevant ways to create a safe work and living environment.

"My expectation during this critical summer period is ZERO preventable fatalities and ZERO accidents resulting in permanent disability to our Soldiers, Family members and Civilians," said Maj. Gen. Scott D. Berrier, commanding general, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca.

"My intent is to mitigate the dangers associated with the summer season and create an atmosphere of camaraderie while providing an educational and enjoyable Safety Fair prior to the upcoming summer season. All Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Military and Civilian personnel are encouraged to participate," Berrier added.

Safety offices and on-post partners will offer information booths, static and interactive displays designed to educate and raise safety awareness while having fun and encouraging individuals to lead safer lifestyles. The fair is designed for audiences of all ages.

Fort Huachuca's agencies will feature aircraft, fire trucks, simulators, commercial vehicle inspections, health and preventive medicine information, hunter safety, driving, motorcycle, youth car seat, hazardous material, various aspects of home indoor and outdoor safety, and more.

In addition to Fort Huachuca, 25-30 organizations from Cochise County and around the state plan to attend and showcase one or more aspects of safety education. They will also display the latest safety gear and tools.

The Huachuca Area Herpetological Association will bring live snakes and other creatures. Visitors have an opportunity to pet a snake or love a lizard.

USDA Forest Service firefighters will be on hand to present wildfire prevention information unless they are fighting a wildfire during the safety fair.

The Boxer Bots, a Vail, Arizona-based youth robotics group, will demonstrate robotics safety using robots the team designed and constructed.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety plans to bring a rollover machine. Using a child-sized dummy, Arizona DPS employees will demonstrate how a child can be tossed from a vehicle when the machine rolls if the individual is not wearing a seatbelt.

Arizona Occupational Safety and Health Administration personnel are going to provide a display with safety handouts.

Southwest Gas will share information about pipeline identification and digging.

Air EVAC will showcase their transport helicopters.

Other agencies from the community will also be on hand to share safety tips and exhibits.

For more information, call the Safety Office at 520.533.2776 or 520.533.3697.