Three Key Factors in Recreational and Off Duty Safety

• Know your limits - pushing your body beyond its capacity is an invitation to injury.

• Understand the hazards - every activity, from golf to mountain climbing, has some potential for injury.

• Prepare beforehand - get in shape, use the right equipment, and know safety rules are important for all recreational activities.

Common Hazards of Recreational and Off duty Activities

• Too much, too soon - Out-of-shape people who jump too quickly into recreational activities are courting disaster.

• Weekend workouts - physical activity once a week doesn't get you into shape.

• Overdoing it - take enough breaks if prone to muscular problems.

• Blows - always wear required protective gear.

• Slips and trips - be aware of slippery surfaces, quick turns, or improper footwear can cause falls.

• Shin splints - caused by running on hard surfaces making running and walking painful.

• Sprains and strains - caused by unused muscles. Ankles and wrists are especially vulnerable.

​Annual Safety Stand Down

Every year before Memorial Day weekend, CFAY Safety celebrates the beginning of summer and provides the 101 Days of Summer Stand Down. A mandatory Safety Stand Down is held since the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays poses the potential for greater risks to Sailors and Marines. It is a period when many service members transfer and travel to visit family and friends. It's also a time for beach parties, cookouts and often times combined with alcohol consumption, hot weather and high risk activities. The Stand Down is available to all Commands on COMFLEACT Yokosuka.

Let's all be safe and play safe.

What Your Children Should Know Pre-schoolers Ages 3-5

Call for help.

Children as young as three should be taught how to contact the local emergency number in an emergency. Practice with a toy phone, teaching your preschooler how to dial the appropriate emergency service. Yokosuka Base is 911, off base is 119 (Cell phone 046-816-0911).

Children this age also should be able to dial their own home phone numbers. With incoming calls, they should know never to say that an adult is not present, and never to give personal information over the phone.

Recite address and phone number.

In an emergency, children also should be able to clearly state their name, address, phone number, and if possible, provide a brief description of the situation. Set up pretend emergencies and let your child practice responding.

Never play with fire.

Because fire is fascinating to small children, they need to be taught how dangerous it is. Tell little ones how painful it would be to be burned, and stress never to play with matches or lighters.

Buckle up!

Make sure children understand why and how they should be properly restrained while in the car. They should NEVER take their restraint off while the car is in motion.

Use safety equipment.

Life jackets, bike helmets, roller-blading safety gears and other safety equipment for outdoor activities can help kids reduce their risk of injury when they’re out having fun. Make the rules regarding their use simple: No matter how short the bike ride, the helmet goes on; no matter how little time you’ll be in the boat, the life jacket must be worn, and so on.

Check First!

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children advises parents to establish the “Check First” rule with their children. David Shapiro, director of marketing and development, summarizes the rule as follows:

“Before you go anywhere with anyone, even someone you know, Check First with an adult in whose care you are entrusted (parents, teacher, daycare provider, baby-sitter, etc.). Ask if it is okay, tell them who you will be going with, where you are going, how you are getting there, and when you will return.”