By
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Justin Ailes, Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Public Affairs
GUANTANAMO
BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Key leaders at Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
hosted the annual winter holiday safety stand-down at the installation's
Bulkeley Hall auditorium, Nov. 27-28.
Officials
at the naval station conduct two safety standdowns per year in an effort to
promote safety awareness; one at the beginning of summer and one before the
winter holiday season.
"We're
here to discuss mishap precautions and prevent off-duty accidents," said
NS Guantanamo Bay Executive Officer Cmdr. Colin Caswell. "Realistically,
Sailors need to care about themselves and what they're doing, because any
mishap will affect mission readiness."
Among
the myriad of topics discussed, the stand-down focused mainly on suicide
prevention, motor vehicle safety and residential risks associated with the
holiday season.
"It
is a very stressful time during the holidays," said NS Guantanamo Bay
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) Counselor Senior Chief Aviation
Electronics Technician Matthew Murcin. "Statistically, the military sees a
'spike' in the number of suicides during the holiday season. As of Nov. 1,
there have been 54 reported suicides in the Navy. Whether or not it's stress,
depression or other factors, we as leaders need to be aware of the warning
signs associated with suicide and take the necessary actions to prevent
it."
As
part of suicide prevention awareness, service members in attendance were
presented with handouts outlining the Navy's Ask, Care, Treat (ACT) policy and
the warning signs associated with suicidal behavior.
"It's
important for us to watch out for everyone and know that we can lower the
suicide rate around us," said NS Guantanamo Bay Fleet and Family Support
Center Educational Services Facilitator Lara Tur. "The unique position we
are in at GTMO is that we have a very 'close-knit' community and we can all
look out for each other."
During
the standdown, attendees were also informed about the risk factors associated
with fatigued holiday travel, and the dangers of drinking and driving and
overall alcohol abuse.
Service
members were also advised to take the necessary precautions when using holiday
items such as decorative lights and "turkey fryers."
"Overall,
we are concerned with holiday accidents and how it affects readiness,"
said Caswell. "This stand-down is targeted to keep you safe and provide
you with useful tools you may need during the holidays."
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