Okay, I know there are some pretty strong opinions on this subject but any and all constructive suggestions would be appreciated.
Last night my CC informed me that I have a new project: Since the old Safety Pledge is obsolete and was a bit long and not the easiest to break into recitable phrases, he wants me to craft a new Safety Pledge for squadron use.
Is anyone else using an "unofficial" pledge/oath?
Iowa wing has come up with a new safety pledge thats a bit shorter. STAND BY.
The Safety Oath
"I pledge that I will serve safely in the Civil Air Patrol and that I will attend safety meetings regularly, participate actively in safety activities, obey safety policies, maintain vigilant awareness of safety around aircraft, ground resources and other equipment, and advance my training to prepare myself to conduct Civil Air Patrol policy in an athmosphere of safety."
Quote from: Major Carrales on April 05, 2007, 03:39:51 PM
The Safety Oath
"I pledge that I will serve safely in the Civil Air Patrol and that I will attend safety meetings regularly, participate actively in safety activities, obey safety policies, maintain vigilant awareness of safety around aircraft, ground resources and other equipment, and advance my training to prepare myself to conduct Civil Air Patrol policy in an athmosphere of safety."
Yup, makes me all excited about safety right now.
I just safely typed that.
Quote from: tedda on April 05, 2007, 03:57:53 PM
Yup, makes me all excited about safety right now.
I just safely typed that.
So then you must have had on your DayGlo Orange Safety Vest on when you typed! ;)
I like the original 2003 pledge better. It sounded less like it was written by Microsoft's lawyers.
I pledge to do my part to foster a safe environment during all CAP activities, to be a responsible steward of CAP resources, and to fully prepare myself for the challenging missions that serve America.
Quote from: mlcurtis69 on April 05, 2007, 04:00:20 PM
Quote from: tedda on April 05, 2007, 03:57:53 PM
Yup, makes me all excited about safety right now.
I just safely typed that.
So then you must have had on your DayGlo Orange Safety Vest on when you typed! ;)
And a bucket if siting on the ground, or a flight suit if in the air.
Quote from: tedda on April 05, 2007, 03:57:53 PM
Yup, makes me all excited about safety right now.
I just safely typed that.
Safety is difficult to get excited about. We shouldn't have to remind people to be safe.
"I pledge to serve more safely in the Civil Air Patrol, that I will not stick bling in an electrical outlet...ever again, that when I see a pilot running from his airplane I will follow (or lead if he's slow), that I will memorize the phone number to 911, and that I will never again say, 'hey ya'll, watch this'."
Quote from: Psicorp on April 05, 2007, 04:31:03 PM
Quote from: tedda on April 05, 2007, 03:57:53 PM
Yup, makes me all excited about safety right now.
I just safely typed that.
Safety is difficult to get excited about. We shouldn't have to remind people to be safe.
"I pledge to serve more safely in the Civil Air Patrol, that I will not stick bling in an electrical outlet...ever again, that when I see a pilot running from his airplane I will follow (or lead if he's slow), that I will memorize the phone number to 911, and that I will never again say, 'hey ya'll, watch this'."
What's the number for 911?
I always thought 911 was nine
eleven.
Opps, my bad ;)
When it was required, we made up laminated index cards..
Seniors - Core values on one side, safety pledge on the other.
Cadets - Cadet oath / Safety pledge.
We recited it at every meeting, as directed, and memorized it, or had the cards as a reference.
>ONE< unit in ILWG decided it was too hard, and all of a sudden we had a new one.
We recite the original one at every meeting. It has not rained frogs yet...
(which, frankly, would be kinda cool to see...)
My unit has a CULTURE of safety, and doing things right "just because". An oath didn't' make any difference.
Okay, I'll probably get shot for this one....
I thought the Safety Pledge and the many versions of it were ineffective. (This coming from a Safety Officer).
We had a short one that was easy to remember, then we changed it to a wordy paragraph, then we dropped it. A few months later it was resurrected. I can't tell you how many meetings I went to where cheat sheets had to be handed for those present to recite from. They all had that look on their face as though they were 'going through the motions'.
Safety is very difficult to get eveyone excited about. There is no glamour and most of the time you hear about all the 'bad' results from someone being unsafe.
Safety Officers and Commanders have to take the lead to promote a Safety Culture. Members have to embrace that culture as part of their daily lives and routine. Everyone needs to ask a simple question before undertaking any of our tasks. "Is this safe and will I or someone else get hurt?"
Attempting to use safety oaths, pledges, and contracts....just don't work that well. Being proactive and embracing a total safety culture and mindset does.
OK, here's one for you...
S-s-s-s A-a-a-a F-f-f-f E-e-e-e T-t-t-t Y-y-y-y
Safe, dance pledge!
[Spoken]
We can dance pledge if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance pledge and if they don't dance pledge
Well they're no friends of mine
I say, we can go where we want to
A place where they will never find
And we can act like we come from out of this world
Leave the real one far behind
And we can dance pledge
Rather that coming up with another silly pledge, I'd suggest putting that energy into some other effort that is actually meaningful.
Although I did get a chuckle out of ddelaney's pledge. ;D
Quote from: A.Member on April 06, 2007, 02:03:31 PM
Rather that coming up with another silly pledge, I'd suggest putting that energy into some other effort that is actually meaningful.
Although I did get a chuckle out of ddelaney's pledge. ;D
I would like to, believe me, but I was given this assignment and I'll do it.
Quote from: Major_Chuck on April 06, 2007, 12:57:08 AM
Safety Officers and Commanders have to take the lead to promote a Safety Culture. Members have to embrace that culture as part of their daily lives and routine. Everyone needs to ask a simple question before undertaking any of our tasks. "Is this safe and will I or someone else get hurt?"
Attempting to use safety oaths, pledges, and contracts....just don't work that well. Being proactive and embracing a total safety culture and mindset does.
I think you are entirely correct....we need a positive approach, a safety oriented mindset.
In the 1970s, the late President Ford, unsure how else to handle rampant inflation in the US economy, had thousands of lapel buttons made with the slogan 'WIN - Whip Inflation Now' emblazoned on them.
His buttons had as little (or as much) direct effect on the economy as the Pledge did/does on CAP operations!
I believe most units/Wings have Deep-Sixed the old pledge long ago.
However, there were some cadets around here who were able to chant it not unlike the monks on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, complete with banging their heads with a book as they marched.
Quote from: Psicorp on April 06, 2007, 02:27:49 PM
Quote from: A.Member on April 06, 2007, 02:03:31 PM
Rather that coming up with another silly pledge, I'd suggest putting that energy into some other effort that is actually meaningful.
Although I did get a chuckle out of ddelaney's pledge. ;D
I would like to, believe me, but I was given this assignment and I'll do it.
Well, if you
have to (and I'm not sure you do, I'd push back) then how about this:
I will be safe. Amen.
;)
Ever since they nixed the pledge, I started putting my arm into rotating props again. :o
Quote from: JC004 on April 09, 2007, 05:12:44 PM
Ever since they nixed the pledge, I started putting my arm into rotating props again. :o
How do you type? ???
Quote from: mikeylikey on April 09, 2007, 11:05:45 PM
Quote from: JC004 on April 09, 2007, 05:12:44 PM
Ever since they nixed the pledge, I started putting my arm into rotating props again. :o
How do you type? ???
Vista comes with voice recognition software.
First, my hats of to anyone that drives the Safety Program in their respective wings, units, etc. Working in an emergency department I can tell you countless stories of people hurt from any number of misteps that could have been avoided. (This is what pushed me into becoming a CAP Safety Officer and now Safety NCO for my guard unit).
I don't have an easy answer for anyone who asks "How can I make my safety program exciting?" You can't. People are either interested in what you're trying to teach or enlighten them on or they arn't.
What you can do:
1. Don't read a safety article word for word to a group. The moment you start reading from the script you've lost them.
2. Use the KISS princple. Keep it short and simple. Chances are they will retain everything you discussed if you don't bog it down with a lot of statistics and words. Pick a couple of statistics but give them the handout with all of the report. If they're interested they'll read it on their own.
3. Keep the topic relevent. Don't talk about icing in the middle of summer.
One summer a few years back I gave a talk on snake bites to a bunch of cadets. Local Park Service helped me out by letting me borrow some of there 'stuffed' snakes. Props always help.
Quote from: mikeylikey on April 09, 2007, 11:05:45 PM
Quote from: JC004 on April 09, 2007, 05:12:44 PM
Ever since they nixed the pledge, I started putting my arm into rotating props again. :o
How do you type? ???
Based on the prop wash, I'm guessing O POS.
Quote from: ddelaney103 on April 10, 2007, 02:46:58 AM
Quote from: mikeylikey on April 09, 2007, 11:05:45 PM
Quote from: JC004 on April 09, 2007, 05:12:44 PM
Ever since they nixed the pledge, I started putting my arm into rotating props again. :o
How do you type? ???
Based on the prop wash, I'm guessing O POS.
Niiice.
"I pledge to use common sense." - Done.
Or
"I pledge to do what I can to make sure people and stuff don't get broke..."
Okay, here it is, pending approval:
"I Pledge to foster a safe environment
to be a responsible steward of CAP resources
to report incidents and concerns promptly
and to better myself to be of service to my Country."