Manage Your Off-Duty Risks During Labor Day Weekend

By April Phillips, Naval Safety Center Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of summer, also marks the end of the Naval Safety Center's (NAVSAFECEN) annual summer safety campaign, "Live to Play, Play to Live."

Statistically, during the last five years, the Labor Day holiday weekend has not been any more dangerous than any other Friday to Monday period. Nonetheless, one Sailor and one Marine were killed in off-duty mishaps last Labor Day weekend. This is a tragedy for their families and friends, and also for the fleet as a whole.

Rear Adm. Brian C. Prindle, Commander, NAVSAFECEN, said he, unfortunately, understands this better than most. In his recent Labor Day message to the fleet, he tells the true story of a car wreck that took the lives of two teenage girls and caused significant injuries to the 15-year-old boy in the back seat. While the injuries were extensive, the reason the boy survived was because he was wearing his seatbelt; the girls were unrestrained. That boy was Prindle's youngest son, now 18.

"Life gets hectic, and we have days where we're not as focused on driving as we should be. At these times, we need every 'good habit' risk management tool available," Prindle wrote in his message. He went on to say that habits such as buckling seatbelts and planning a designated driver must be so ingrained that Sailors, Marines and their families do them automatically.

"They will go a long way toward protecting us from our own momentary inattention, and from bad decisions we or other drivers make at a time we can never predict. The results can be life-changing in a very positive way," he said.

While many may use the long weekend to drive long distances to visit family and friends, the road is not the only risk Sailors and Marines will face this weekend. In addition to the two fatalities, last Labor Day weekend there were also 52 reportable injuries. Some of these were the result of motor vehicle mishaps, but many others were caused by sporting activities, misuse of alcohol, and other off-duty activities. While most of the mishaps were minor, some were serious and nearly all could have been prevented with solid risk management practices.

Prindle said the goal for this Labor Day - and every day - is zero preventable mishaps. While this summer will fall slightly short of last year's achievement of safest on record, a fatality-free Labor Day holiday weekend will end the summer campaign on a high note.