Safety Pledge

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Last night my CC informed me that I have a new project:  Since the old Safety Pledge is obsolete and was a bit long and not the easiest to break into recitable phrases, he wants me to craft a new Safety Pledge for squadron use.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."
 

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.

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.

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.

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'."

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. 

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. 

I would like to, believe me, but I was given this assignment and I'll do it.

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.

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. 

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.   

Ever since they nixed the pledge, I started putting my arm into rotating props again.   

How do you type?

Ever since they nixed the pledge, I started putting my arm into rotating props again.   

How do you type?

Vista comes with voice recognition software.