R 182032Z NOV 10

ALCOAST 559/10
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: HOLIDAY SAFETY AND WELLNESS - DONT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN
1. SHIPMATES, THE HOLIDAY SEASON GIVES THOSE OF US NOT STANDING THE
WATCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME WITH CO-WORKERS, FAMILY AND
FRIENDS, AND PARTICIPATE IN HOLIDAY TRADITIONS. MANY OF US WILL
SOCIALIZE, TRAVEL AND WORK OUTSIDE OF OUR NORMAL ROUTINES. THEREFORE,
AS PART OF THE - DONT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN - CAMPAIGN, I ASK THAT YOU
TAKE EXTRA CARE OF YOURSELVES, YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR SHIPMATES.
DOING SO WILL ALLOW ALL OF US TO ENJOY THE SEASON AND SAFELY RETURN
TO OUR DUTIES.
2. STRESS CAN BE INTENSIFIED AS WE REMEMBER LOVED ONES LOST, MAINTAIN
HECTIC SCHEDULES, FACE TRYING FINANCIAL TIMES OR DEAL WITH FAMILY
ISSUES. PEOPLE WHO ARE ALONE ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. CONSIDER
INVITING THOSE WHO ARE ALONE TO JOIN IN YOUR HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.
PLEASE BE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO SIGNS OF DEPRESSION IN YOURSELF
AND YOUR SHIPMATES. YOU CAN FIND USEFUL INFORMATION ON MANAGING
STRESS ON THE USCG WORK-LIFE WEBPAGE AT:
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE.
3. PLAN YOUR TRAVEL. THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS THE BUSIEST TRAVEL TIME OF
THE YEAR. DRIVING IS A HIGH RISK ACTIVITY. A GREAT ON-LINE TRIP
PLANNING RESOURCE FOR THOSE OF YOU DRIVING IS THE TRAVEL RISK
PLANNING SYSTEM (TRIPS). YOU CAN ACCESS TRIPS THROUGH THE USCG SHORE
SAFETY WEBPAGE AT:
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG1/CG113/CG1132/DEFAULT.ASP.
4. THERE ARE THREE CRITICAL RULES YOU MUST FOLLOW:
    A. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE - DESIGNATE A DRIVER. A DUI OR BUI IS A
POTENTIAL CAREER ENDING EVENT. MORE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER, YOU COULD
END UP TAKING SOMEONES LIFE OR LOSING YOUR OWN.
    B. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT AT ALL TIMES AND WEAR YOUR HELMET WHENEVER
YOU ARE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE, MOPED OR BICYCLE.
    C. STAY ALERT - DO NOT USE YOUR CELLPHONE TO TEXT. IF YOU MUST
USE
YOUR CELLPHONE TO TALK, DO SO ONLY IN THE HANDS FREE MODE.
    D. BE A GOOD SHIPMATE - SPEAK UP AND SPEAK LOUDLY WHEN YOU
OBSERVE
OTHERS NOT TAKING THESE PRECAUTIONS.
5. SUPERVISORS MUST EXERCISE PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP. KNOW HOW YOUR
PERSONNEL WILL SPEND THE HOLIDAYS. EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR SOUND
OFF-DUTY RISK MANAGEMENT. REMIND YOUR PERSONNEL TO LOOK OUT FOR THEIR
SHIPMATES.
6. SHIPMATES, I AM IMMENSELY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
DEVOTION TO DUTY. STAND A TAUT WATCH SO YOU CAN SAFELY COMPLETE YOUR
DUTIES AND RETURN TO YOUR FAMILIES.
7. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.