931st Safety Office gives holiday travel advice Published Nov. 19, 2012 By 1st Lt. Zach Anderson 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- For many Airmen, Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday travel season. With thousands of Airmen hitting the roads in the coming weeks, the 931st Air Refueling Group safety office has some advice to help Citizen Airmen make it to their holiday destinations safely. According to Master Sgt. Felicia Sanders, 931st Air Refueling Group ground safety manager, the holiday travel season is a time members need to be extremely vigilant. "In fiscal year 2012, six Airmen were killed between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Five of those fatalities were traffic related," said Sanders. Sanders said that before traveling, she advises members to use the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plan of "Three P's of Safe Winter Driving"--prepare, protect, and prevent. "Preparing means making sure your car is in safe working order," said Sanders. "It means you maintain your car, have emergency items on hand, and plan your route beforehand." Sanders said drivers should check their ignition and fuel systems, belts, hoses, fluids, wiper blades, heater, defroster, battery, lights, brakes, and tires before traveling. She also suggested some emergency items drivers should have with them on the road. "Cell phones, jumper cables, a paper map in case you lose signal on your GPS, a shovel, a tow strap, a first aid kit, a flash light with extra batteries, an ice scraper, flares, and matches, an abrasive material such as kitty litter in case you get stuck in the snow, blankets, extra socks and gloves, snacks and water are all good things to bring with you," she said. "Protect means that you protect yourself and your passengers," she continued. "Buckle up, use safety seats properly and remember that children under the age of 12 are much safer in the back seat." Sanders said the "prevent" portion means taking steps to avoid accidents while driving. "Of course, drugs and alcohol never mix with driving," she said. "Drivers also need to remember to slow down and avoid distractions like talking on cell phones, texting, or eating while driving, and they need to take steps to avoid fatigue." Sanders said one of the biggest mistakes people make when traveling during the holidays is not allowing enough time to travel and then trying to push through drowsiness to make it to their destination. She said that is a very dangerous risk. "Drowsy driving is comparable to drunk driving," she said. "Sleeplessness impairs a driver's reaction time, vision, and judgment." Sanders cited a study conducted by the AAA Foundation, which found that being awake for more than 20 hours results in impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. Sanders said there are steps drivers can take to mitigate the risks of drowsy driving. "Get a good night of sleep before you hit the road, seven to nine hours," she said. "Don't rush. Leave early and allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Take a break every 100 miles or two hours, and stop driving if you become sleepy. Someone who is tired can fall asleep at any time." Sanders referenced, "Safe n' Sound, All Year Round," which is the theme for this year's Air Force Holiday/Winter safety campaign, which runs from Nov. 16, 2012 to Jan. 2, 2013. "The purpose of the campaign is to ensure safety tips are made available to the Air Force community," she said. The campaign features seven primary and three optional safety modules, including travel planning, holiday decorating, seasonal fire hazard, winter sports, and dangers of short daylight hours. "The information provided in 'Safe n' Sound, All Year Round' provides Airmen with tools to implement sound risk management into all their winter and holiday activities," said Sanders. For more information, visit the Air Force Safety Center website or log onto the 931st Air Refueling Group Ground Safety Sharepoint site and click on the "Safe n' Sound All Year Round" link.