'Tis the season, to be conscientious and not complacent, contemplative and not careless, and cautious not comatose.

Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) reminded staff members during a recent Holiday Safety Brief that the annual holiday season that stretches from mid-December into the New Year continues to be a time when everyone has to remain mindful of a number of health and well-being issues such as drinking-and-driving, sexual assault, and enforcement of state-wide distracted driving laws.

"Our Holiday Safety Brief has a number of relevant topics and issues. It's not just about drinking and driving. There's way more than that. These presentations apply to us all and not how we conduct ourselves over the holidays. We also know that the holidays can be a vulnerable time for some. It's up to all of us to look out for other staff members. I remind everyone to use compassion, competence and character in what you do," said Capt. Jeffrey Bitterman, NHB Commanding Officer.

According to Mr. Jean L. Hallmark, NHB Safety Specialist, the premise of holding the annual brief is to help ensure that there is a holiday season with only positive outcomes for staff members and their families and friends.

"We hope that addressing some key concerns of holiday travel, celebration strategies, and stress reduction techniques will prepare the staff to enjoy the holiday season safely, and keep our staff mission ready. We also know that there are new staff members continually arriving at our command. Some (are here) for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. Many are junior Sailors, often straight out of school, with no support system established. The holidays can be particularly difficult time for these folks, so it is important to make them aware of the issues surrounding responsible holiday celebrations and where they can go support," explained Hallmark.

The brief included shared insight from experts representing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D), Kitsap County Sheriff's Department, and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board. Hallmark acknowledged that bringing in a panel of experts in their specific field(s) has proven to be a valuable resource to share with staff and get them involved in the brief.

"Having experienced support is really the key to this program. The subject matter experts are chosen to address not only issues surrounding holiday celebrations, but also address the real-life consequences of making wrong decisions. Utilizing local law enforcement and key members of community organizations like M.A.D.D promotes communication between these entities and our staff members," Hallmark said.

SAPR Coordinator Candy Cardinal shared the uncomfortable truth that in Fiscal Year 2017, the overwhelming majority of the local Navy Region Northwest 66 reported sexual assault cases also involved alcohol.

"If alcohol is involved, there's also more severity in the type of offense," Cardinal said, adding that NHB is a central point for the entire region in providing needed assistance to sexual assault victims in need.

"NHB's SAPR program, Victim Advocates, and the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners are all very supportive and are there when they matter the most," said Cardinal, adding that the main goal of the SAPR program is to provide immediate services and help 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week for sexual assault victims and reduce the incidence of sexual assault committed by or against military service members, their families, and civilians.

24/7 SAPR Advocate Response Line: 360-340-7037
DoD Safe Helpline: 877-995-5247
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) On-Call: 360-340-7156

Washington State Patrol Trooper Russ Winger shared from over three decades of traffic enforcement experience that containing drunk drivers is still a big issue.

"Getting someone impaired off the road saves them and others. Our goal is not to write tickets but to change behavior. That's the good part of my job because I've seen too many of the bad kind," shared Winger.

Yet Winger's main message centered on an update taking place in Washington's new, tougher distracted driving law - the one that bans holding a cellphone while driving, even when stopped at a red light - that went into effect July 23, 2017.

Winger noted that the Washington State Patrol had been using a 'soft approach' to enforcement of the new law, which bans the use of handheld devices while driving and includes cellphones, tablets, laptops and video games. That means no texting, checking social media, watching videos, using the camera or talking with the device in hand, including while stopped in traffic.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission reports one in four crashes involves cellphone use just before the crash. Using a handheld device while driving will now be considered a primary offense. The six month grace period of receiving a warning will be gone next month. Fines will start at $136 and increase to $234. Additionally, and perhaps even more daunting, violations will be reported to insurance companies, which could mean violators will see their rates climb.

"But there are still a lot of drivers causing a lot of grief by sending, receiving, texting a message when they're driving. We're seeing more collisions and fatalities as a result," said Winger.

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