Prior planning prevents problems, preserves careers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anania Tekurio
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  While there is nothing wrong with having a good time after a long week of work, without responsible planning, an evening out with friends could turn into a terrible tragedy. A little prior planning can not only ensure a great weekend but also preserve careers and, most importantly, save lives.

First, cultivate an attitude of responsibility in yourself and among your friends. "It's all about personal responsibility," said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Lavoie, 28th Bomb Wing command chief. Airmen should think ahead about how the events of the night will play out and the steps that need to be taken in order to keep everyone involved safe while still having a good time.

The next step is a responsible attitude toward drinking. A good basis for this is the 0-1-3 model. The concept is:
"0" - A commitment to zero alcohol-related incidents.
"1" - Having no more than one drink per hour.
"3" - Having no more than three drinks per day.

Though effective, the guidelines are not a guarantee as tolerance varies with each individual based on a variety of physical and environmental factors.

The third critical step is to develop and follow a plan for the evening that includes a few vital elements. First, don't drive your car to the bar. This will eliminate the temptation to drive home. Instead, have some cash on hand for a taxi or even better, have a designated driver. Also, make sure that you have phone numbers of a friend, a wingman, or your supervisor, so you can contact them if you become too impaired to operate a vehicle.

Should all of these plans fail, however, Lavoie said there is still yet another option to get you home safely: call SafeRide.

"SafeRide is a base-wide volunteer program designed to prevent alcohol-related incidents by providing members a safe ride home," Lavoie said. "It has recently been updated both to enhance effectiveness for Airmen and ensure safety for volunteer drivers from Ellsworth Air Force Base."

"Providing Airmen With a Last Resort to Get Home Safely," is the intent of the SafeRide program. The goal of the program is to prevent people from driving under the influence of alcohol by providing them a safe ride home. Active-duty military members, their family members and/or one guest are allowed to use the program. Having provided nearly 1,200 rides over the past year, SafeRide has incorporated feedback from both its volunteer drivers and those who have used the program, in order to enhance the program's safety and effectiveness.

When calling SafeRide, dispatchers take the rank and name of the caller and verify their eligibility to use the program. The pick-up radius for SafeRide now spans from Blackhawk, S.D. to the base, and from the base to Highway 16/79 (Stoney Creek Apartments). The SafeRide program is coordinated by the Ellsworth AFB Company Grade Officers Council and dispatcher/driver duties rotate monthly among each 28th Bomb Wing group and staff agencies.

SafeRide is not available during major base operations such as wing level exercises, inspections, or major real - world missions. For safety reasons, it is also not available during hazardous weather conditions.

"The program is most effective when Airmen practice responsible drinking, put good plans in place, and rely on it only as a backup when otherwise good plans fail," Lavoie said.

With so many resources available, responsible Airmen have a lot of options at their disposal to easily plan for a fun, safe, and memorable night out.