3Rs of Explosives Safety

Veterans and their families sometime keep “souvenirs” in the form of old weapons and ammunition. For everyone’s safety : 

 

3Rs of Explosives Safety Recognize
When you may have encountered a munition and that munitions are dangerous. 

 

3Rs of Explosives Safety Retreat
Do not approach, touch, move or disturb it, but carefully leave the area. 

 

3Rs of Explosives Safety Report
Immediately notify your chain of command or local police. 

 

This point was brought home recently when a floating anti-ship mine was found in Liberty Bay near Brown Point Marina. Recognizing the mine for what it was, USCG and USN explosive ordnance disposal units cordoned off the area while the mine was inspected and an explosive charge attached. This time, the mine proved to be inert when no secondary explosion occurred and was later found to be a lost practice weapon from exercises conducted by the Naval Undersea Warfare unit at Keport in 2005.

Explosives should be treated just as you would a firearm. There is no such thing as an unloaded gun.