Commander's Corner

  • Published
  • By Col. Robert E. Suminsby Jr.
  • 377th Air Base Wing Commander
It's that time of year again -- the kids are going back to school and the streets and sidewalks will be filled with children excited, or maybe not, to be getting back into the classroom.

That means we must be more vigilant in keeping our eyes peeled for youngsters eagerly crossing the street on their way to school. Pay attention to crossing guards in intersections allowing children to cross. Watch for school zones and be aware of speed limits in these areas.

If you have children who will walk to school on their own, now is a good time to reiterate how to safely cross a street. If you have children who ride the bus, talk with them about not playing in traffic near the bus stop and make sure they know where they will be getting on and off the bus.

Whether your children walk, ride the bus or ride in a carpool, discuss the importance of not talking to strangers with your children. There is a wealth of information on the Web about staying safe and being aware of surroundings. Making sure they know their name and phone number to give to the police if they become lost or get off at the wrong bus stop is also important.

In these 101 Critical Days of Summer, we want all of Team Kirtland to make it back in each and every day, including our children.

Thankfully, we have done quite a good job at keeping ourselves and each other safe this summer. We have not experienced any fatalities or serious accidents. However, we did have two reportable mishaps -- a two-car accident with no injuries and a sports injury requiring convalescent leave. We still have time left in the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign. Let's remember that education and awareness can prevent accidents.

Each and every member -- civilian, military and dependent -- is important. It's vital that we do our best to keep each other and ourselves safe this summer and throughout the year.