WIESBADEN, Germany - Joe Michalkiewicz knows what you're thinking when it comes to safety briefings.
They're boring.
The safety manager for 5th Signal Command in Mannheim admits that safety briefings are a tough sell, even for Soldiers who are required to attend.
The usual style for an Army briefing with Power Point slides and question and answer session doesn't capture a group's attention, said Michalkiewicz.
So how do you make the mundane briefing about clearing ice off your vehicle before driving it or the correct way to aim a fire extinguisher more engaging' And how do you make Soldiers retain the information'
Add some buzzers, a projection screen and top it off with the "Jeopardy" game show theme music. In other words, turn it into a competition.
The U.S. Army garrison Wiesbaden held its second Winter Safety Jeopardy Competition at the Community Activity Center Nov. 20. Five teams of Soldiers and garrison civilian employees competed in two rounds and final "Jeopardy" question that wiped some teams completely off the score board.
Michalkiewicz said he has been using the "Jeopardy"-style game for safety briefings for nine years. After picking up the software at a safety trade show, Michalkiewicz used the format at one briefing.
Then commanders began making requests. Could he do the same briefing with their Soldiers'
"It's all about making it fun and getting involved so they don't dread going to a safety brief," said Michalkiewicz.
Taking part in the competition were Soldiers and civilian employees from the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, the Wiesbaden Health Clinic, the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade, the 24th MI Battalion and the 1st MI Battalion.
The usual hesitancy by Soldiers to answer questions during briefings was replaced with frantic movements over buzzer buttons as they competed one by one to answer first and answer correctly.
But in the end, one by one team members in the Wiesbaden winter safety game groaned.
The final "Jeopardy" question was knocking down scores.
"By an Executive Order dated 1 Oct. 2009, President Obama has prohibited federal employees from doing this while operating vehicles on federal business."
Groups that answered "using a cell phone" or "talking on cell phones" got the buzzer.
The four Soldiers representing the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade were the only group to answer correctly - texting.
Wiesbaden's was the first safety jeopardy that Michalkiewicz hosted that incorporated questions about texting while driving.
A 15-minute film shown to participants before the game started focused on what happened when a 19-year-old man was texting while driving.
He crossed the center line, sideswiped a car and caused a fatal accident that killed two men. The teen served 30 days in jail and 100 hours of public service.
In addition to the game, participants and audience members also watched public service announcements on safety. And outside the CAC, Hollmann's Auto representatives gave free vehicle inspections for winter safety.
While the questions asked in the Safety Jeopardy competition were simple and some just common sense, Michalkiewicz said it's still important to remind people and Soldiers of what to do to stay safe.
"The bottom line is we're just trying to keep people alive," said Michalkiewicz.
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