An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Prepare for the 101 Critical Days of Summer

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Susan Moreno
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON --  As Memorial Day draws near, kicking off the 101 Critical Days of Summer, Airmen are reminded to take extra precautions when it comes to vacations and summer activities.
 
"Memorial Day weekend normally is one of the peak weekends for accidental deaths," said John Decker, 11th Wing chief of safety. "However, any time during these 15 weeks of 101 Critical Days is a time when terrible accidents happen." 

The Air Force began implementing the 101 CDS program in the 1960s. Historically, the 101-day stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day carries with it a higher risk of death and injury to servicemembers than any other time of year because of the extended hours of daylight and ideal weather. 

"The program started slowly and grew with time," said Mr. Decker. "The other services discovered that this program was effective, and followed with their own 101 critical days programs in the following years." 

Automobile, motorcycle and water accidents are the leading causes of fatalities among servicemembers, according to Mr. Decker, and adding alcohol to the situation only makes it worse. Forty percent of all vehicle deaths are directly connected to alcohol each year, meaning that about 17,000 lives are lost to alcohol-related vehicle accidents annually in the U.S. 

In the Air Force, 12 percent of all motorcycle deaths are alcohol-related. The average age of a person killed in a motorcycle accident in the Air Force is 22-and-a-half. 

"Alcohol unfortunately plays a big part in most types of accidental deaths," he said. "We are also very concerned about our younger Airmen because most of our accidental deaths occur in the junior enlisted ranks." 

This Memorial Day weekend and all-year-round, Airmen "should be vigilant wingmen," said Mr. Decker. "Terrible and often fatal accidents can be easily avoided by planning ahead."