Saftey awareness

Not wearing a seatbelt cost a passenger in this vehicle her life. The Air Force is nearly half way through its 101 Critical Days of Summer, that time of year from the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend to the end of the Labor Day weekend when the Air Force traditionally has an increased number of mishaps, especially those occurring in off-duty activities. The leading cause of fatal mishaps during this period has been off-duty private motor vehicle mishaps; the second highest number of fatalities has involved water sports and drowning. Use a wingman, take care of each other, be responsible on and off duty, and ACT - assess, consider, and take appropriate action - when confronting an unsafe situation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Luis Harris)

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If it can happen, it will happen

Published July 9, 2010
By Lt. Col. Dave Tuck
21st Space Wing Safety Office

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- The mantra of any safety program is, "it can happen to you," meaning a mishap can happen to anybody. The problem is most people think it will happen to someone else, never to them. Some survive the mishap, and some don't. Ironically, every victim, if they live to tell about it, will recount that before their mishap they were sure it would happen to somebody else. What people don't realize is that given enough chances, what can happen, will happen to them. Sadly, most accidents can be prevented because they are tied to the last link in a chain of events caused by them, not the other person. So for your sake, please meet one of those "other people."

Tawnya was a smart and talented young woman with a very bright future ahead of her. Her life was a feel-good story, the kind we all like to hear about. Tawnya's early years were full of challenges, but with the love of her grandparents, the guidance and care from her teachers and maybe even the company of a few good friends, Tawnya began to consistently make good choices and follow a path to success and happiness. But sometimes making good choices for ourselves isn't good enough.

Tawnya fell in love with a young man who was in fact, one of those good influences in her life. He was much like a typical Airman, he loved her very much and was in fact one of the reasons she began to apply her talents in school. He was very supportive and protective of her, and in no way would he have let her put herself in danger. But he didn't put Tawnya in danger all be himself; she was a full contributor to the danger she faced.

The young man drove a sports car and he liked to drive it fast, especially with Tawnya beside him in the passenger seat. She enjoyed riding with him as well, so they often went out driving on the town, and returned just as often safe and sound. But Tawnya always refused to wear a seatbelt - the first link in an irreversible, tragic chain of events. For some reason, she felt she didn't need to wear one - a seatbelt was for the other person. So when they raced down the street that night going 71 mph in a 45 mph zone, there were too many links in the mishap chain to overcome. What could happen, did happen.

The young man lost control of the car and hit the curb. The force of the impact caused the car to roll over several times, and with no safety restraining device to protect her, threw Tawnya out of the vehicle. Regrettably, Tawnya did not survive the crash, but to her family, friends and to that young man who loved her so much, the one they lost was not the "other person."

If you take enough chances and build enough links in the chain, what can happen, will happen.

Saftey awareness