Yokota hosts Safety Week

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David C. Danford
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Yokota Safety Week kicks off March 7 and will continue to March 11, hosting an array of events and demonstrations to encourage base residents and community members to apply risk management in their daily lives and provide information to assist them. 

"We want everybody to be thinking about safety first," said Masaharu Kawagishi, 374th Airlift Wing Safety Office deputy occupational safety manager.

Kawagishi said safety is a constant thought for leadership across base and the Air Force; Yokota Safety Week is intended to not only improve on this idea, but also instill it into off-duty habits as well.

Events take place throughout the week, with Monday and Friday having the bulk of demonstrations.

March 7 (Motorcycle Safety Day)
9 a.m. - Pre-season brief at the base theater (required for all active motorcycle riders at Yokota).
10 a.m. - Ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the new motorcycle safety course.
10:15 a.m. - Japan Self-Defense Force Yosaki Dance
10:30 a.m. - T-Clocs and blessing of bikes
11 a.m. - Mentorship Ride

March 8 is Traffic Safety Day and brings surprise safety events around base.

March 9 is Child Safety Day; there will be free child car seat checks and installations by a certified inspector at the Yokota Community Center roof 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March 10 is Safety-At-Home Day; there will be booths with free information booklets and safety-related gifts at the YCC main entrance.

March 11 (Safety Fest)
Located at the new track, near the Westside laundromat and building 1296.

9 a.m. (continues throughout day) -earthquake simulator; smoke house; fire-fighting experience; interactive fire truck ladder, pumper and engine display; and seatbelt simulator and convincer
11 a.m. - Tokyo Metro Police dog demonstration
12:30 p.m. - Traffic safety demonstration
1:30 p.m. - Police motorcycle demonstration.
***Skills practice will be available for motorcyclists who show up with motorcycle***

The scheduled events for safety week reflect this on and off duty mindset, according to Kawagishi. From motorcycle training to child seat inspections, an array of safety concerns are scheduled to be covered during Yokota Safety Week.

For safety questions or those interested in taking the Basic Rider's Course (an Air Force requirement to ride motorcycles), contact the wing safety office at 225-7233.