2010 Critical Days of Summer and Suicide Prevention Campaign - "I Can Save My Own Life"

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Mark P. Mongillo
  • 36th Wing Chief of Safety
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  To any Team Andersen member, the motto "I Can Save My Own Life" is well known. Team Andersen started using this dictum and the "I Can Save My Own Life" campaign in 2006 and we still continue its use today. Now Pacific Air Forces has seen the power of this maxim and has adopted "I Can Save My Own Life" as the official motto of the 2010 Critical Days of Summer and Suicide Prevention Campaign. The goal of this year's Critical Days of Summer and Suicide Prevention Campaign is zero preventable deaths.

Traditionally, the Critical Days of Summer has started on Memorial Day Weekend and lasted through the Labor Day Weekend. This year, PACAF will kick off its Critical Days of Summer and Suicide Prevention Campaign the last week of May with a half day Wingman Stand-Down Day for all units. The purpose of this half-day stand-down is to ensure all Air Force personnel, whether Active Duty, Guard, Reserve or Department of Defense civilian, is aware of both the increased rate of suicides that our Air Force family is experiencing this year and the tragic losses the Air Force is currently experiencing to our young Airmen in vehicle accidents. This half-day stand-down is designed to reenergize the Wingman concept at all levels of the Air Force and to re-emphasize that being a good Wingman is the foundation of both safety and suicide prevention.

Team Andersen held its Wingman Stand-Down Day May 25 and will continue its Critical Days of Summer kick off May 28 with a 36th Force Support Squadron sponsored Burger Burn down at Tarague Beach. During this Burger Burn, 36th WG personnel will be able to see the hazards of driving under the influence by using the 36th WG Safety Office's DUI simulator or the "drunk goggles."

The 36th WG will continue its Critical Days of Summer and Suicide Prevention Campaign through the Labor Day Weekend. To maximize the Campaign effectiveness, the 36th WG will host events such as workplace safety briefings, a Wingman/Suicide Awareness motorcycle rally, "Time Never Runs Out on Safety" 5K run, and a forklift rodeo. The Critical Days of Summer and Suicide Prevention events are open to all Team Andersen personnel and you can contact both the 36th Wing Safety Office and Unit Safety Representatives for a listing of all the 36th Wing Critical Days of Summer and Suicide Prevention events planned for the summer.