FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (June 9, 2011) -- Fort Meade's Installation Safety Office kicked off its annual 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign with a Safety Stand Down on June 1 at McGill Training Center.
About 450 garrison and partner service members and employees attended the three-hour event. The campaign marks the start of the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when most injuries occur, said George Lawler, ISO safety and occupational health specialist and the event organizer.
"Most [of those injured] get hurt due to sunburn, fireworks, automobile and motorcycle accidents, and sports-related accidents," Lawler said.
About 20 vendors including the Fort Meade Army Substance Abuse Program, the Navy Information Operations Command Maryland Safety Office, Baltimore Washington Eye Center and Johns Hopkins Medicine presented information at the Safety Stand Down in an effort to help prevent injuries and heighten awareness of common safety issues.
Vendors set up displays to inform participants about health and wellness issues, such as alcohol and drug use, home fire-prevention, industrial safety, and automobile and motorcycle safety.
Vendors also provided services such as blood pressure screenings and eye exams.
ISO staff quizzed attendees on safety and gave away promotional items such as key chains and water bottles as prizes.
The Maryland State Police displayed the Seat Belt Convincer, which simulates a vehicle driving at 5 to 10 mph.
Maryland State Police Trooper 1st Class Harrold Aaron said the force of the machine at such a speed can surprise people.
"It shows what would happen to you if you didn't have your seat belt on and how you would feel," Aaron said.
He noted that while most people in Anne Arundel County wear seat belts, many drivers in metropolitan areas, such as Washington, D.C., are not as compliant.
Jennifer Evans, a clinical pharmacist at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, informed people about the proper way to dispose of medications.
She said drug abuse and misuse often occur when people obtain drugs from family and friends and either self-dose or overdose.
"Safe storage of drugs is very important, and [so is] safe disposal," Evans said.
Jolynda Thompson, a personnel action officer in the Military Personnel Division at the Directorate of Human Resources, said she found the information about the increased use of synthetic drugs among young people to be the most helpful.
The mother of a 15-year-old son, Thompson said she learned how quickly new drugs hit the streets and how easily they can be obtained.
"I learned about drugs I never knew about before, but I had to know," she said. "I learned what signs and symptoms to look for."
George Robinson, a project manager for a contractor at the Directorate of Public Works, said he and his employees found the event to be useful, especially the information about home fire-prevention.
"It was very informative," he said. "This is something I'd like to see them do a lot more often."
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