Managing daily risks by reducing them Published March 2, 2010 By Senior Master Sgt. Todd Wadkins 932nd Airlift Wing Safety SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- "I compensate for big risks by always doing my homework and being well-prepared. I can take on larger risks by reducing the overall risk" - Donna E. Shalala I found this quote several months ago and had toyed with how to present it. Then, the once fuzzy thought process was brought into focus. With the loss of one of our own, a true Patriot, I found a way to express the concept of this quote. What we do, as Air Force Reserve Command members, is inherently dangerous. We are cooks, we are maintainers, we are heavy equipment operators, we are medical technicians, we are pilots, we are administrative assistants...we are civilians too, not to mention we all, as Americans, are targets. In the grand scheme of things there are more people in the world that don't like us than do care that we serve to protect freedom and democracy. For those of the general public, there are also everyday risks. In the quote, Ms. Shalala talks about handling risks, more specifically the "big risks." Our training and prepa- Managing daily risks by reducing them ration has a lot to do with our ability to complete the mission and return home to our loved ones safe and sound. It doesn't eliminate the risk, but does give us an edge of managing the risks we face. With that being said, getting to and from this your work can be risky as well, for civilians and military alike. In case you haven't noticed, it's still winter. Mother Nature has taken care of most of the road construction by adding sleet, snow and ice to the equation. Some people drive in from Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Washington D.C., even from Patoka, Sandoval and Centralia, IL. Managing the risk of winter driving can be a real challenge, so I'm going to give you just a few tips to deal with hazardous weather conditions. · Plan your travel, selecting both primary and alternate routes. · Let someone know your travel routes and itinerary so that, if you don't arrive on time, officials will know where to search for you. · Check latest weather information on your radio. · Try not to travel alone--two or three people are preferable. · Travel in convoy (with another vehicle) if possible. · Drive carefully and defensively. Watch for ice patches on bridges and overpasses. · If a storm begins to be too much for you to handle, seek refuge immediately. · If your car should become disabled, stay with the vehicle, running your engine and heater for short intervals. Be sure to "crack" a window in the vehicle to avoid carbon monoxide build-up. · Pack a Winter Survival Kit in your car: a change of clothes, dry socks, non-perishable food, flashlight, kitty litter. Take care of the manageable risks, so that when our Nation calls upon us to face the "big risks," we are ready and able.