MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines from Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base, attended the 2005 Summer Safety Fair at Marston Pavillion, June 22, to take part in efforts aimed at increasing safety awareness among Marines and their families.
“Marines get so focused on the mission at hand that it is often easy for them to loose sight of personal safety habits,” said Jeanette Benson, a volunteer for the Onslow County Chapter of the Red Cross. “The main goal of this fair is to increase safety awareness for Marines and their families.”
The fair included informative and interactive displays presented by the Jacksonville Police Department, the Onslow County Chapter of the Red Cross, the Camp Lejeune Fire Department, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, the Naval Hospital, Semper Fit and others.
The individual “booths” were focused on aspects of personal safety that specifically apply to Marines. Some of the subjects covered included water safety, fire safety and prevention in the home and office, sexually transmitted disease prevention, alcohol and illegal substance abuse, nutrition, physical fitness and sun safety, according to Kathi Cormier, director of health and safety for the Onslow County Chapter of the Red Cross.
“We’re doing our booth about water safety due to the recent drownings that have occurred in the area,” said Cormier.
Education is the key to avoiding premature death and unnecessary injuries. The knowledge and data given to Marines at the fair could help teach them how to prevent accidents from occurring in the future, according to Jim Askins, health educator with Health Promotion Department, Naval Hospital.
“Personal safety is important and should be second nature,” said Cormier. “The educational information and training provided here today can increase Marines’ awareness of how to avoid and react to safety hazards and potentially hazardous situations.”