Combat Edge: Stop gambling with your life

As the Ground Safety Superintendent for one of the largest installations in the United States Air Force, I have seen my share of mishaps. Military personnel continue to depend on luck when it comes to safety. It constantly amazes me that not only do people survive these mishaps, but they are able to fill out witness statements afterwards. Below are just a few examples of how military personnel have somehow avoided the grim reaper:

* Injured person was ejected out of the driver's window in automobile rollover mishap

* Injured person was trapped between the moon roof and the road as the automobile slid down the road

* Injured person slid into curb and a pole after being thrown from a motorcycle

* Injured person fell from the second floor balcony reaching for a telephone

* Injured person was run over and drug by a government vehicle as a result of horseplay

* Injured person was shot at point blank range by roommate as a result of horseplay

* Injured person shot self in the leg while cleaning a recently purchased gun

* Injured person was passenger on motorcycle and was thrown off without any personal protective equipment (helmet)

* Injured person fell asleep, rolled, and totaled sport utility vehicle

* Injured person was thrown from a boat and injured by the propeller

All of the above mishaps were preventable. They were reported as Class C mishaps, but could easily have been Class A mishaps (fatalities). Each one either failed to wear a helmet, put on a seat belt, get proper rest, or engaged in horseplay with moving vehicles and guns.

Despite shop, squadron, and wing safety efforts through newspaper articles, videos, seminars, safety fairs, mishap prevention briefs, mass briefings, and special training, military personnel continue to press their luck. My installation has gone 3 years without a fatality, but not because of our stellar safety practices. How is your base doing? Just remember, the next person that fails to follow established safety procedures may not be available for an interview. Don't gamble with your life -- eventually your luck will run out.