Spangdahlem challenged with summer safety Published June 5, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The Air Force Critical Days of Summer Campaign began Memorial Day weekend and ends Sept. 2, 2013. Critical Days of Summer is the Air Force's summer safety campaign. The largest movement of safety occurs in the summer because the weather is nice and more activities with a higher potential for mishaps are available. The campaign raises awareness of safety hazards during the summer season. It is an effort to help all Airmen mitigate those hazards and to understand that safety has a role in everything they do, on and off-duty. The Spangdahlem safety office initiated a base-specific Critical Days of Summer challenge program to spread the word of summer safety. "It gets more people involved, "said Tech. Sgt. James Yerger, ground safety NCO in charge. "Typically one person is going around the squadron taking care of the main issues. When we throw this challenge together everybody gets involved. It pushes out awareness through the squadrons." Squadrons may earn points by promoting safety in various ways throughout the base. Posting fliers around the base and creating a script for video or radio commercial pertaining to safety are just a few ways to earn points. Toward the end of the challenge the safety office will pass out a quiz that each squadron must complete. When the quizzes have been graded, the safety office will appoint a winner of the challenge. The winning squadron receives a one-day pass, a traveling trophy and a free barbecue. "Regardless if you are military or civilian, be safe and take care of yourself, your family, friends, and those around you," said Yerger. "Make safety a priority. Don't just say you are being safe, actually physically be safe."