‘Safety Ferry’ provides information, demos

***image1***The 21st Theater Support Command’s “Safety Ferry” staged a two-car collision on Rhine Ordnance Barracks May 26.
John Ferry, the 191st Ordnance Battalion’s safety officer and self-proclaimed “Safety Ferry” (as a play on his last name), coordinated the wreck as part of a 415th Base Support Battalion Fire Department demonstration at the 191st Ordnance Battalion, 29th Support Group’s Safety Day. The annual event was open to the KMC.
An audience of approximately 500 servicemembers and family members watched as a car traveling less than 30 mph crashed into a parked car.
The demonstration was so lifelike that 415th BSB fire chief Herr Jürgen Stegner brought the children in the audience to the wreck to explain the wreck was just “pretend.”
After the staged crash, 415th BSB fire department, 435th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection Flight and German Red Cross emergency responders demonstrated the proper procedures to extract passengers from vehicle wreckage.
“This is something you only want to experience in a demonstration,” said Mr. Stegner. “So practice all safety procedures while you are driving, and never, never drink and drive.”
The demo was not the only safety message imparted to the audience Mr. Ferry arranged for numerous demonstrations and booths, including a demonstration from the 529th Military Police dog handlers from Pulaski who put their military working dog, Cedo, through his paces.
While the day was fun-filled for many involved, safety is serious business in the 21st TSC, said Maj. Christopher Whittaker, the 191st Battalion executive officer.
“Everyday is Safety Day,” said Major Whittaker. “But today, we are putting special emphasis on safety, because we are heading into the summer.
When the days get warmer, people become more active and busy, and accidents are more likely. We chose this day because it is just before the long Memorial Day weekend.”
The timing of Safety Day fit many purposes.
“This Safety Day is most appropriate,” said Lt. Col. Charles Kibben, the 191st Ordnance Battalion commander. “U.S. Army Europe Commander, Gen. B.B. Bell, said that May 1 would be the beginning of the Summer Safety Campaign for the Army. The Air Force is working the 101 Critical Days of Summer safety.”
“Our ‘Safety Ferry’ makes sure we have safety uppermost in our minds as we go through our missions daily. This day is a safety booster shot for those daily and weekly reminders,” said Colonel Kibben.
To ensure that the Soldiers visited every booth and attended every class, the ‘Safety Ferry’ issued each booth owner and class instructor a special code.
“We have to visit each booth and class,” said Sgt. Donn Antonia, training NCO for 23rd Ordnance Company, 191st Ordnance Battalion. “It’s only after we visit the class, booth, or demonstration that we are given the code to put on our class checklist. This is a fun way to get safety information.”