JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Inn's Safety Day was held June 4 with help from several on- and off-base agencies in support of the Department of Defense's Critical Days of Summer program, which began Memorial Day weekend.
The safety day was open to the JBSA community "to boost morale and stress the importance of safety, both at work and at home," Mary Eddy, JBSA-Randolph Inn lodging manager, said.
Featuring catchy 1980s music to set the mood, the outdoor event also featured stations with 902nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog handlers, Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents, 359th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight members, JBSA-Randolph firefighters, and a member from the 502nd Air Base Wing Safety Office, San Antonio Rape Crisis Center and Universal City Police Department.
Every organization had something to share, be it information about putting out fires and how to use a fire extinguisher or how to correctly climb a ladder.
"Anytime we (as an installation) can promote all-around safety is beneficial to our people," Tech. Sgt. Travis Yates, 502nd ABW Safety Office NCO in charge of ground safety, said. "Being aware of your environment is not a one-time deal, it's all the time, whether driving to work or cooking at home."
For Eddy, the event's main purpose was for attendees to "bring home knowledge about safety in case they need to apply it in real-world situations and to know who to contact for what type of emergency."
"Knowing how and when to use a fire extinguisher, emergency evacuate and call 911 are general safety measures that can potentially save lives, especially during summertime," James Smith, JBSA-Randolph Fire Emergency Services fire inspector, said.
In addition to receiving important tips from station to station, attendees had a blast during the day's lighter moments, such as participating in a word scramble, a version of charades, a bed-making contest and attempting to walk in a straight line while wearing goggles that simulated a drunken driver's vision, Eddy said.
"Everything about today was good because safety matters," she added. "Hopefully, the safety day will become an annual event once again and that we can make next year's bigger and better."