AMC to kick off Critical Days of Summer Published May 17, 2016 By Air Mobility Command Safety Office Headquarters Air Mobility Command SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The Air Force will launch its annual Critical Days of Summer campaign May 27, 2016, with the theme "Decisions Matter," in response to a typical spike in accidents, injuries and deaths during the summer months. Last year, 14 Air Force members lost their lives during the campaign. Two of those deaths were Air Mobility Command members, both of which were alcohol related. These numbers are nearly identical to the command's five-year average. "Every year, we lose Airmen to preventable mishaps that could have been avoided by making better decisions," said Air Force Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II, AMC Commander. "We don't want to lose a single one of you, especially to a situation that could have been prevented." In the process of grilling, driving, skydiving, swimming, etc., people expose themselves to more risks, which equates to more accidents, said Ronnie W. Bendall, AMC Occupational Safety and Health manager. Of course, most people are confident they're not going to be an accident victim. "In a nutshell, that's exactly the problem--they fail to recognize the hazard," Bendall said. "Without that, we can't take appropriate actions to limit or remove the risk. It happens all the time. Decisions matter." "A common thread is the fact that we lose more Airmen on our nations' roadways than anywhere else," said Bendall. "Recurring factors continue to be speed, alcohol, fatigue and making poor personal risk management decisions. In other words, our Airmen continue to die for the same decisions they make." Water sports are the second leading cause of accidental death to Air Force members, with the most common factors being alcohol and fatigue, according to statistics maintained by the Air Force Safety Center. Many times swimmers overextend themselves when they exceed their physical capabilities. The hazard is compounded when alcohol is involved. Together, water and alcohol form a deadly mix. "In addition to the two AMC fatalities, we also had 110 non-fatal accidents last summer, 78 percent of which were off-duty," said Bendall. "The primary source of those activities included motor vehicle operations, backyard cookouts, water sports, etc. The majority of summer mishaps result from poor decisions and are preventable." "The ball is in your court," he continued. "You have to value your own safety and well-being. You also must think of your family and loved ones. How will your loss impact them? Another way you can help is by being a really good Wingman, according to the AMC Occupational Safety and Health manager. "A really good Wingman can always be trusted to do the right thing every time without worrying about hurting feelings or losing friends," said Bendall. "Failure to step up and be a really good wingman could result in the catastrophic loss of a friend or loved one." Similar to other years' campaigns, the AMC commander and command chief master sergeant will kick the campaign off with a video discussing their views about safety. In addition to the video, the AMC Safety Office will provide facilitator guides for units to use and help spark discussions in small group settings, with the hope the discussions will help participants make better decisions regarding their own safety and the safety of their families, friends and co-workers. AMC's goal for the Critical Days of Summer, which runs through September 6, is zero fatalities," said Bendall. "We can only achieve this goal if everyone makes better decisions." To view the 2016 Critical Days of Summer message from Gen. Carlton Everhart and Command Chief Master Sgt. Shelina Frey, visit the AMC YouTube channel here.