Like most of you in the fire service, I subscribe to all of the various fire publications, Web sites and blogs that are out there. I can't get enough information, and feel sometimes I am on fire service information overload.
Two alarming reports I read recently show, when it comes to safety, we in the fire service are still our own worst enemy.
Fire apparatus is my main focus, and many things have improved in the industry in the past four to five years. I am extremely happy that all of the fire apparatus manufacturers are taking safety seriously.
The vehicles are being manufactured safer, with added bells and whistles such as roll stability control, side and frontal air bags, red seat belts, so the officer can see if all of the members have their belts on when responding, improved lighting on the apparatus, and even a new product that just came out that will signal the officer if belts are not being worn.
But there's only so much these improvements can do, as highlighted in articles I saw in The Washington Post and a small local paper in New York State.
The first report was about fire truck accidents on the rise in Washington, D.C. There were126 in 2006, with 20 people injured including nine civilians. Luckily, no one was killed. Boston had 53, Baltimore had 143, and Philadelphia had 136.
The second report was even more alarming. It dealt with seat belt usage. So far, nine firefighters have been killed this year in apparatus accidents — six were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from their vehicles. The worst year in the past five years was 2003, when 30 firefighters were killed, eight of whom weren't wearing seat belts.
The report went on to explain that New York is among 37 states in the country that does not mandate seat belt usage for firefighters. In fact, there is an emergency responder mandate that excuses firefighters and fire police from buckling up. According to the Firemen's Association of the State of New York, the exemption exists because every second counts and being held up by a seat belt could cost a life.
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, since according to the U.S. Fire Administration, 25 percent of all fire service deaths occur responding to and from alarms.
What can we do aside from contacting our local officials and getting some of these dumb laws changed? Make seat belt use a priority in your department. If you don't have a SOP regarding seat belt usage, get one in place ASAP. Make it a mandate for your officers to be responsible to make sure everyone is belted in before you move the apparatus.
I have heard all of the whining going on — the belts are too small, I have all of my turnout gear on, and my gloves are too clumsy to buckle the belt. Stop whining and be part of the solution. If you have to take the SCBAs out of the cab, do so. Buckle up before you put your gloves on. If there is a will, there is a way.
There is even a study being conducted by a major apparatus manufacturer to see the difference in size between small, medium and large firefighters with turnout gear on and how it affects the seating and belting size in the cab interiors.
Training apparatus drivers is another concern we have to address. Some of the larger cities such asNew York, Washington, D.C. etc. have purchased computerized simulators — Firefighters have to spend so much time on the simulator before actual outside driving.
Not everyone can afford this type of training, but the days of having the senior guys in a volunteer fire department taking the young guys out a few hours a week for driver training has got to stop also. Not everyone is capable of driving a 10 or 20 ton aerial, heavy rescue, or engine in code 3 circumstances, especially if they are 18 or 19 years old.
We have to be careful in driver selection and make sure all of the training provided is documented. Have your drivers take a county EVOC course. In some cases, fire departments have required drivers to obtain a CDL in order to drive.
We all have to help each other in reducing injuries and deaths, even if it is something simple like wearing a seat belt and providing better training. We are losing too many good firefighters by not helping ourselves.
