419th safety office helps kick off 101 Critical Days of Summer Published May 19, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Nathan Greer 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT -- Safety is no accident. That's exactly the message the 419th Fighter Wing's Safety Office wants to convey as the 101 Critical Days of Summer approaches. "I look at it as 101 critical days of trying not to hurt yourself," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Kowalczyk, 419th weapons safety manager. The annual safety campaign, which has been around since the late 1960s, runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day in an effort to curb the increase in fatalities that typically occur during the summer months. "The fatality rate during the summer needs to be lower than it is," said Staff Sgt. Jenipher Sears, a 419th ground safety specialist. During the 2008 101 Critical Days Campaign, the Air Force Safety center reported 16 Air Force fatalities, down from 19 the year before. Sergeant Kowalczyk emphasized that the best safety tool people have is being aware of their surroundings and circumstances. "People try to push the boundaries, or don't pay as close attention to their environment. Don't push your limits," he said. "If the hair on the back of your neck stands up, you want to take a step back because you're probably going to get hurt." In addition to general situational awareness, one of the major areas of focus the safety office is quick to point out is motor vehicle safety. "Sometimes it seems like a war zone out there on the interstate," said Staff Sgt. William Roe, 419th ground safety specialist. "Summer is when the roads are most congested," Sergeant Sears added. "Auto accidents are the number one fatal accident in the Air Force." The 419th Fighter Wing has a good track record when it comes to safety, Sergeant Kowalczyk said. "Our mishap trends have gone down. That tells me that people are paying attention to what's around them and working safely." The wing safety office has generated a number of resources to facilitate a culture of safety for the wing, including an online community of practice and the monthly Safety Spew newsletter that details the wing's safety program. "The idea is to highlight pertinent safety issues affecting us now. That's why we do the Spew, to help identify those little facets of safety people sometimes overlook," Sergeant Kowalczyk said. This year, the 101 Critical Days of Summer Campaign will run from May 25 to Sept. 7.