Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) held its annual safety stand down to emphasize the 101 Critical Days of Summer May 23.

The 101 Critical Days of Summer begins Memorial Day weekend and ends after Labor Day, which typically sees a spike in vehicle and recreational accidents. This year's stand down stressed the many ways Sailors, Marines, and their families can safely enjoy summertime fun.

Instead of holding a safety stand down with a traditional series of lectures indoors, NMRC’s Safety Department held a safety exposition outside in the parking lot. The expo had 10 individual learning stations manned by NMRC staff and personnel from outside agencies, such as Forest Glen Fire Dept., Montgomery County Police, Montgomery County Recycling, and the National Safety Council, to promote safety, and educate civilian and active duty personnel how to avoid various risks.

Participants were given a safety passport card numbered 1-10. After they visited each station to learn about motorcycle safety, operational risk management, power tool safety and personal health awareness, to name a few, they received a stamp. After filling their card with the required stamps they turned them in to the Safety Department.

Lt. Claire Modica, an aerospace experimental psychologist said she got involved with the expo because she want drivers to notice motorcyclists, and what to look out for when passing them in intersections and multilane roads.

"The statistics regarding traffic incidents is alarming, especially those involving motorcycles," Modica said.  “An individual isn’t protected against harm by the sheathing of metal, plastic, and glass as in most cars.”

According to the Naval Safety Center, in 2018 there were almost 80 Sailor and Marine deaths directly related to recreational/off-duty and personal motor vehicle activities.  

“Although we don't think about it as often as we should, safety is an around the clock issue,” said Lt. Wayne Quinn, deputy director, Joint Safety Office. “Our Safety Expo is designed to highlight many of the things which often go unnoticed during our daily routine We want this event to be thought provoking for all hands.”

After the expo NMRC’s Morale Welfare and Recreation committee held a picnic for All Hands in NMRC’s back patio.

The 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign originally began sometime after the passage of the Monday Holiday Bill in 1971, when statistics showed an increase in mishaps and fatalities during long weekends and longer summer days. These safety stand downs are to remind Sailors of the various dangers they can encounter in their off-time, as well as provide valuable information for new Sailors who have never experienced a safety stand down.

For additional safety information, visit www.NSC.org or https://www.safetycenter.navy.mil

About Naval Medical Research Center

NMRC's eight laboratories are engaged in a broad spectrum of activity from basic science in the laboratory to field studies at sites in austere and remote areas of the world to operational environments. In support of the Navy, Marine Corps, and joint U.S. warfighters, researchers study infectious diseases; biological warfare detection and defense; combat casualty care; environmental health concerns; aerospace and undersea medicine; medical modeling, simulation and operational mission support; and epidemiology and behavioral sciences.

NMRC and the laboratories deliver high-value, high-impact research products to support and protect today's deployed warfighters. At the same time researchers are focused on the readiness and well-being of future forces.

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