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Recognize when you may have encountered a munition and that munitions are dangerous.

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but carefully leave the area.

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Immediately notify local law enforcement or the Coast Guard and advise them of what you saw and where you saw it.

Follow the 3Rs

Visit the 3Rs Explosives Safety Education website: https://www.denix.osd.mil/uxosafety

UXO, Dud, Training Round, War Trophy, Souvenir

The US Army 3rS (recognize, reTreAT, reporT) exploSiveS SAfeTy edUcATion progrAm

IntroductionIn 2000, a munition taken by teenagers from a posted, operational range detonated, killing one, injuring another and destroying property. In an effort to prevent similar incidents, the Army began development of its “3Rs” Program.

Immediately following a 2004 incident where a chemical munition was recovered by a fishing vessel, an outreach brochure and poster for the maritime industries was developed. Additional materials have been developed for divers.

AbstractMembers of the United States public are typically unaware of the potential hazards associated with munitions and need information about what they should do if they encounter or suspect they have encountered a munition. The Army developed the 3Rs message to be:

Consistent, • Easily understood, and • Memorable. •

The “3Rs” Explosives Safety Education Program and its “3Rs” message (Recognize, Retreat, Report) are the basis for programs to inform the public of the hazards associated with munitions that they may encounter. The “3Rs” Program encourages everyone to learn, follow and educate others about the “3Rs” of explosives safety.

Methods The Army developed the “3Rs” Program as a comprehensive, coordinated program intended for use nationwide. The “3Rs” were selected to be easily understood and remembered by children and adults, much like the “Stop, Drop and Roll” fire safety message. Benefits of the “3Rs” program include:

Elimination of duplicative efforts,• Elimination of mixed or differing • messages, ability to provide information rapidly • following an incident, and Preservation of resources and funds for • other purposes.

The Army refined its core “3Rs” message as well as much of the “3Rs” safety education material using focus groups that included, among others, risk communicators, explosives safety professionals, parents, and educators.

Geoffrey CartonSenior AnalystCALIBRE Systems, IncAlexandria, VA, USA

JC KingOffice of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army forEnvironment, Safety and Occupation HealthWashington, DC, USA

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DiscussionThe Army’s “3Rs” Explosives Safety Education Program materials are downloadable (see below). The website provides a variety of outreach materials including guides, coloring books, posters, public service announcements, videos, and posters. Although the material is designed to allow users to make some modifications (e.g., add points of contact), its script is not. The material some of which is available in other then English, was designed to be used anywhere and to be adaptable for specific or general activities.

The effectiveness of the “3Rs” message has been demonstrated after numerous presentations to children and local communities.