Osan students increase safety awareness through contest Published June 23, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Foster 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- In an effort to increase safety consciousness for Osan American High School and Middle School students, 51st Fighter Wing Safety office oversaw a safety-themed essay and poster contest in June. The contest was in relation to the Critical Days of Summer, the largest and longest running U.S. Air Force safety campaign. The rules were: High school students must write a 250-word safety-themed essay, while middle school designed a safety-themed poster. Winners for both contests received: First place was $17 to the Osan BX food court, Second place was an AAFES car sales T-shirt, Third place was two free bowling games at MiG Alley, Honorable mention received a certificate. Below are the names of the winners of each contest: Essay 1st Place: Natalia Pomales-Rivera 2nd Place: Brian Raab 3rd Place: Deanne Polaski Honorable mention: Matthew Albonetti Poster 1st Place: Jessica Kowalk 2nd Place: Lisa Newkirk 3rd Place: Hailey Faude Honorable mention: Kayla Harris Here are the winning entries for the contest: ESSAY Natalia Pomales-Rivera May 26, 2010 Critical Days Of Summer Summertime is approaching and people are already making plans on how to best enjoy the warm weather. Cycling is a fun sport that can be enjoyed by the entire family old and young alike. Learning to ride a bicycle is easy but staying safe while riding is another story. People must be taught bicycle safety at a young age. The rules children are taught become good habits in the future. As an unknown author once said, "Safety is as simple as ABC - Always Be Careful." The most important rule is to wear a properly fitted helmet. Helmets decrease head injury by 85% and brain injury by 88%. Before riding the tires should be inflated to the correct amount and the brakes should be functional. When riding a bicycle dress in bright neon colors and use reflective tape. Try to keep both hands on the handle bars and avoid riding at night. As young adults people start riding in the streets. Everyone should remember to go with the traffic flow and to obey all traffic laws. Try to avoid getting distracted and although cycling with a blaring iPod sounds like fun, the consequences of an accident aren't. Pay attention to theroad and to cars leaving parking spaces. Adults have the highest amount of responsibility on their shoulders. They must teach kids the rules and keep them safe. Parents need to be more aware to prevent accidents. Over 300,000 kids each year visit the hospital for bicycle related injuries. Adults must inspect every bike and oil the chains regularly. The most important thing an adult or older child can do is to set a good example by always wearing a helmet, using hand signals before changing direction, and staying alert to all possible dangers. By teaching children these good habits we can ensure a safe, fun, and excitement filled summer. Always remember that safety never takes a holiday. Please view associated photo of the winning poster entry