As temperatures rise and typhoon season rolls in,
military commands across Okinawa prepare their troops for the changes in the
sub-tropical climate.
Marines and sailors of Headquarters &
Service Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp
Butler, Japan, gathered June 5 at the base theater on Camp Foster, Okinawa to
refresh their knowledge on staying safe over the “101 critical days of summer”.
These days, traditionally beginning Memorial
Day and ending Labor Day, are the span of time where statistics show most
accidents and incidents among service members occur. Guest speakers shared
their knowledge on different summer safety precautions, such as avoiding heat
injuries, typhoon readiness and aquatic safety.
Of the distinguished guest speakers, three
policemen from the Okinawa Police Department in Okinawa City shared tips on
traffic safety.
“It’s important to be aware of traffic,
especially during (peak) traffic hours,” said Kazumune Namizato, a foreign
cases investigator with the Okinawa Police Department. “When traffic is (congested),
the risk of accidents occurring is (higher).”
Staying vigilant on the road is key to
avoiding traffic accidents, according to Namizato. Increased vigilance has resulted
in less traffic accidents over the past year.
“In 2014, the number of traffic accidents was
6,173, compared with the previous year, it has decreased by 197,” said
Namizato. “The number of deaths (resulting from) traffic accidents has also
decreased.”
The policemen presented videos of real traffic
accidents to use as examples to effectively educate the service members and
explain how the accidents could have been avoided.
Service members are encouraged to not only
take safety precautions on the road, but also while participating in summer
activities, according to Master Sgt. Patricio Mora, the operations training
chief with Headquarters & Service Battalion S-3, MCIPAC. Watching out for
the safety of others on and off duty is also paramount.
“It’s called the critical days of summer for a
reason,” said Mora. “There are some (subjects) that you wouldn’t normally
consider, but this (briefing) reminds you of what to look out for and how to
avoid (safety risks) during the summer.”
All service members under Marine Corps
commands on Okinawa are required to receive classes to prepare for the 101
critical days of summer as part of their annual training requirement.
“It is
important to heighten your awareness during the summer months,” said Mora. “(Service
members) are more active during the summer months and being in (a tropical
climate) means we have to stay on the look-out for dangers the environment may
present.”