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10A The Scout FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015
Summer Safety Fair promotes safety readiness for all
Story and photos by Stephanie Caffall Headquarters at Fort Rucker, Alabama. “Make a plan and get involved; if sure that our guests, military and fam-
“[This event] is important because it something bad was to happen then [ev- ily members have an understanding of
Staff Writer eryone] will be resilient and know how the materials available to assist in any
enables the workforce — military, civil- to prepare for it,” said McCann. “I take emergencies that may happen on the
Fort Huachuca hosted its annual ian and even contractors — to help them part in the annual safety fair to make home front.”
Summer Safety Fair at Thunder Moun- recognize hazards both on- and off-duty.
tain Activity Centre May 15, promoting 'XULQJ WKH 6XPPHU 6DIHW\ )DLU 0D\ D 6ROGLHU YLHZV DQ H[KLELW GLVSOD\LQJ ZKDW IRRG D GRJ
safety, health and wellness for personnel “The first step of safety readiness is cannot eat.
and residents of the community. to always be aware and identify any haz-
ards that could arise whether you’re go-
“There’s a large number of safety ing on a weekend hiking trip or away for
booths at this event,” said Michael Mar- the weekend,” Negard explained.
tin, safety specialist with the Fort Hua-
chuca Safety Office. “If you’re thinking about safety read-
iness, then you can take steps to mitigate
Tools and tips at the event included [any] hazard,” he said.
information on reptile awareness, drug
abuse, fire safety, pet safety, a medevac Thomas Miscione, founder, and Rob-
helicopter for viewing and a simulation ert Troup, co-founder of the Huachuca
drunk driving hosted by the Sierra Vista Area Herpetological Association, were
and military police among the many participants at the
Safety Fair. The pair displayed their rep-
“We’re raising awareness of all of the tile exhibit to demonstrate and educate
safety hazards here on post by bringing the public about the local snakes, lizards
in the right people in to talk to the gen- and frogs Soldiers and civilians may en-
eral public, Soldiers, family members, counter while in the field.
and civilians to say ‘hey, we might have
these things here and you might experi- “More people are killed by vending
ence them,’” Martin said. machines in the United States than by
snakes,” Miscione explained.
A report from the United States Army
Safety Center, titled, “U.S. Army Ac- “Ninety percent of snake bites in the
cident Information” showed that a total United States happen on the hands and
of 1,916 ground accidents occurred to [occur] because people are trying to
Army personnel in fiscal year 2014. Of catch or hold [them].”
these accidents, 22 resulted in fatalities.
Miscione advised, “Leave [snakes]
Approximately 80 to 85 accidents alone and don’t pick them up.”
are attributed to human error, explained
Stephen McCann, emergency manager According to Troup, the high peak
for the U.S. Army Garrison. activity times to see snakes — like the
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
“Inherently there are more accidents or the Desert Massasga — are usually
that occur during the April to September April, August and September.
timeframe for both on-duty and off-duty
Soldiers,” said Michael Negard, director Ready Army also had a station at the
of Communication and Public Affairs of event with materials to address emer-
the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center gency situations such as wildland fires,
power outages, flash flooding or even
active shooter scenarios.
A Soldier takes part in a simulation with drunk driving goggles to show how alcohol can affect
motor skills. The simulation took place outside the Thunder Mountain Activity Centre and was
put on by Sierra Vista and military police.
Thomas Miscione, left, founder of the Huachuca Area Herpetological Association, shows a snake
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