May 27, 2010 - USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) worked relentlessly during the ship's 17-day underway period, completing a wide-range of the qualifications May 27 required to become operational after a more than two-year maintenance availability.
With "Big E" completing these qualifications and entering the work-up phase ahead of schedule, the ship will be pulling into her homeport of Norfolk just in time for one of the biggest holiday weekends of the year.
The Memorial Day weekend, signifies the start of summer and is a breeding ground for safety mishaps. This occurs coincidentally at a time that is critical in the carrier's life.
"Every Sailor and Marine aboard this ship is essential, and we want each one to come back here the same way they leave – happy, healthy and safe," said Cmdr. Daniel A. Haight Jr., the ship's safety officer.
Naval Safety Center statistics from the past decade show that in some years, half of the total Navy and Marine Corps traffic deaths occurred during the 101 critical days of summer, which begins June 1. Factors such as driving under the influence, fatigue, excessive speed and not wearing a seatbelt caused most of the fatalities.
Between Memorial and Labor Day weekend last summer, 24 Sailors and 15 Marines were lost due to off-duty mishaps. Most of these incidents were traffic-related.
"People often let the excitement of having a good time cloud their judgment," said Haight. "During these critical days of summer, we end up losing a lot of our people because they fail to plan properly."
Sailors are encouraged to be aware of summertime risks and to integrate Operational Risk Management (ORM) into their plans. The lingering possibility for injury is frequently overlooked in anticipation of cookouts, beach parties and theme parks.
"Using ORM is as simple as thinking ahead about your activities and considering what can cause injury. Behaviors like responsible alcohol consumption, playing sports within one's own skill level and physical ability, defensive driving, and going to the beach with friends are all great ways to manage off-duty risks," said Haight.
By remembering that safety is key to maintaining the Navy's most valuable asset, its Sailors, injury risks can be reduced dramatically, and every Sailor will have a much more enjoyable summer. Taking just a few extra precautions this holiday can help make it a weekend filled with fun, not tragic, memories.
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