Tragedy can be avoided

Greg McCarty (Right) and David Dittman (Top) Florida Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.) Inc. presenters, perform a simulated medical examination of SrA Newton Chapman (Center) and SrA David Van Winkle (Left), 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron network management technicians, at Independence Hall on Beale Air Force Base, California, May 11, 2016. Chapman and Van Winkle were part of a simulated car wreck during the Tragedy Can be Avoided event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael J. Hunsaker)

David Dittman (Left) Florida Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.) Inc. presenter, explains a scenario to SrA David Van Winkle, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron network management technician, at Independence Hall on Beale Air Force Base, California, May 11, 2016. Van Winkle performed as a casualty for a simulated car wreck during the Tragedy Can be Avoided event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael J. Hunsaker)

Tragedy can be avoided

Greg McCarty (Left) and David Dittman (Right) Florida Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.) Inc. presenters, fasten SrA Newton Chapman, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron network management technician, to a stretcher at Independence Hall on Beale Air Force Base, California, May 11, 2016. Chapman was part of a simulated car wreck during the Tragedy Can be Avoided event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael J. Hunsaker)

Tragedy can be avoided

Published May 12, 2016
By Senior Airman Michael J. Hunsaker
9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

Beale Air Force Base, California --

Making bad choices can affect not only yourself, but those around you. Members of Team Beale learned from Greg McCarty and David Dittman, Florida Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.) Inc. presenters, about the hazards of distracted driving, misuse of prescription drugs and other situations during the “Tragedy Can be Avoided” event here May 11-12.

During the presentation viewers were shown videos and pictures of real and simulated incidents that are the results of distracted and unsafe driving practices.

“We want people to know that this can happen to anybody,” Dittman said.

Volunteers were pulled from the audience for a demonstration of a simulated drunk driving incident.

Senior Airman Newton Chapman, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron network management technician, was chosen to be one of the members involved in the simulated car crash. Chapman played the part of someone that made multiple wrong decisions throughout a night with his friends that lead him to become paralyzed.

“The stretcher was uncomfortable,” Chapman said. “The situation made me feel guilty and really opened my eyes to possible consequences.”

The other simulated victim was Senior Airman David Van Winkle, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron network management technician. During the scenario he played a passenger in the vehicle of an intoxicated driver. During the simulated car wreck Van Winkle’s character did not survive.

“The presentation was pretty graphic,” Van Winkle stated. “I hadn’t thought about what would happen if I were to die, especially notifying my next of kin.”

“We are losing a lot of people because of those that are performing hazardous driving practices,” said McCarty “A lot of people don’t think about what could happen to them. Hopefully by showing what we do, what the hospital does trying to save a life and how it affects others, Airmen will keep this in mind when they are out with their friends.”

For more information about the S.A.F.E. program please visit: http://www.safeprogram.com/index.html