Critical Days of Summer Campaign Kicks Off Published June 5, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen 15th Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The Critical Days of Summer is a 15-week-long period of time that historically has been a period of increased off-duty activity and risk taking, resulting in increased injuries and fatalities. In response, safety centers across the Department of Defense launch the campaign to increase safety awareness and promote risk management during this period. "This is the time of year that we lose more Airmen than any other time of year," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Yonushonis, 15th Wing ground safety manager. "Our number one goal in safety is to prevent loss of life and that's why we pay so much attention to it now." According to the Honolulu Police Departmnet, there were 52 traffic fatalities in Oahu last year, 3630 traffic-related arrests (198 of which were military members), 17 pedestrian fatalities,and 11,348 citations for distracted driving (11,348). Furthermore, the HPD's definition of distracted driving is not just texting or talking on the phone; having a phone in hand while driving can result in a traffic citation. The fine for using a mobile device while driving is $147 for first-time offenders. The Federal Fire Department promotes the importance of having an escape plan, regularly tested smoke detectors on every level of a home and in every sleeping room, and in the kitchen. They also caution Airman against the use of many fireworks, as they have been illegal on Oahu since June 2, 2011. While fire and traffic safety are important, the real focus of the campaign is to simply get Airmen to keep safety in mind, regardless of what they are doing. "The Critical Days of Summer provide a time to stop, pause, and think about the things we want to do and the risks associated with things that we often do all the time like boating and motorcycle riding," Yonushonis said. "It's our time to pause, take time, and think about what we're doing as well as intervening for people who may be doing too much." For more information on safety or the Critical Days of Summer campaign, please visit www.afsec.af.mil.