Stay vigilant while enjoying the holidays

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Magbanua
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The American holiday season is beginning in the Kaiserslautern Military Community as service members, civilian employees, and their families are preparing for upcoming festivities.

As the most wonderful time of the year kicks off, authorities at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are encouraging holidaymakers to remain vigilant.

Master Sgt. Daniel Camacho, 86 Security Forces Squadron Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection manager, listed many ways KMC members can protect themselves while enjoying the holidays.

“With any holiday event there is always some risk involved,” he said. “Some precautions you can take are to try to blend into the local area and try not draw any unwanted attention to yourself. Additionally, you want to always try to have an escape option if something were to happen. Take a quick look around your surroundings and make sure you have more than one escape route; if you don’t, try and find somewhere that does.”

Camacho urged people to take responsibility of their accountability, saying it is important to take measures to protect themselves.

“The biggest thing to remember this holiday season is to not make yourself an easy target,” Camacho said. “Whether you are going to a Halloween event or Christmas market, make sure friends, family or co-workers know where you’re going and take some preventive measures before you attend.”

Staff Sgt. Dave Looby, 86th Airlift Wing occupational safety inspector, said the months between October and December host many risks along with holiday cheer.

He listed risks which may be present during what is supposed to be the most festive period of the year, such as hazards involving electricity, small and large objects and traffic.
Looby emphasized the importance of child safety during the holidays, especially when setting up decorations.

“People say common sense is not so common, but I believe it is,” he said. “Take your time. Be vigilant and think before you do anything. Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when decorating, they have a lot of good information. Also don’t keep the decorations too low.”

Looby also called on parents and legal guardians to keep watch over their children when going for events during hours of darkness, particularly for trick-or-treating and caroling. He encouraged adults to have children wear bright clothing or reflective material such as glow sticks and reflective belts.

While the holidays may carry risks, it should not dissuade families from coming out and enjoying the season, Camacho said.

“The holiday season should be enjoyed and people should not be afraid to go out and experience all that Germany has to offer,” he said. “By just taking some precautions and doing a little bit of preplanning will make your trips that much more enjoyable and if you are to see something out of the ordinary report it immediately to local law enforcement.”