Seatbelt Safety Lets Stop the Tragedies Tom Kiurski

Seatbelt Safety “Let’s Stop the Tragedies” Tom Kiurski Training Coordinator Livonia Fire & Rescue (MI)

Seat belts – NO EXCUSES! • 20% - 25% of the annual firefighter line-ofduty deaths occur while responding to or returning from calls • Lack of seat belts and speed are contributing causes in many of these line-of-duty deaths

Seatbelt Safety • Review video “No Excuses” with Dr. Burton Clark on DVD #1, under “Seat Belt Safety Support Videos” • Review video “Seatbelt Safety on Fire Trucks” from the Country Fire Authority, Australia, on DVD #1, under “Seat Belt Safety Support Videos”

Reasons firefighters don’t wear seat belts: • Even today, only 55% of firefighters polled admit to wearing their seat belt. • Why do firefighters feel that this piece of protective equipment is optional? • Name the reasons that firefighters may give for not wearing their seat belts.

Review the following video at www. youtube. com by typing in “Cops Arrest Firefighter” • This firefighter obviously had one of those excuses for not wearing his seat belt. • Name the potential bad outcomes that could have resulted from him stepping out of a moving apparatus onto a highway.

Reasons firefighters MUST wear their seat belts • • It’s the law NFPA 1500 Driving emergency apparatus is dangerous They are a proven life saver Readily available Easy to use Survival depends on it Your family depends on you using them

The Hugh Lee Newell Story • Columbus Fire Department driver who was ejected and run over by the vehicle he was driving. • Back in 1972, prior to seatbelts in apparatus, the Columbus firefighters installed their own seat belts. • Today, it is much easier to wear seat belts; just click them on!

The Hugh Lee Newell Story • View the “Hugh Lee Newell Story” on DVD #1, under “Seat belt Safety Support Videos

Amarillo, Texas • In 2005, Firefighter Brian Hunton was ejected from moving apparatus, without a seat belt, and he died. • In 2008, a fire apparatus rollover accident happened, and all four seat-belted firefighters escaped safely. • Amarillo FD policy states that unbelted firefighters will be fired.

Why does it take a death or serious injury in EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT to make a difference in the way we respond to incidents? Let’s honor those that have died prematurely in these incidents by wearing our seat belts all the time, every time!

Detroit, Michigan • Firefighter Joe Torkos – Died, leaving behind wife and unborn child – Not belted, low speed, lights and siren operating – hit by speeding criminal – Upon impact Joe was ejected, run over by his apparatus, and trapped under the vehicle’s wheels – FF Torkos died at the scene

• Somerset Township, Michigan – Tanker went around a curve and rolled over – The firefighter driving had a seat belt on – no injuries! Photo by Scott A. Friess

The National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge Do YOU have the courage to sign the pledge? Copy of pledge form found on CD-ROM under “Seatbelt Safety”

Safe Emergency Response • View the “Responding with Seatbelts” video by the Denver Fire Department (CO) on DVD #1, under “Seatbelt Safety Support Videos”

NO Seat belt - LODDs • Review the following NIOSH LODD Reports found on the CD-ROM under “Seatbelt Safety” – #2006 -25, “Junior Volunteer Fire Fighter Dies and Three Volunteer Fire Fighters are Injured in a Tanker Crash – Alabama” – #2006 -06 , “Volunteer Fire Fighter Dies in Tanker Rollover Crash – Texas” – #2005 -35 , “Career Captain Dies and the Driver/Operator and a Fire Fighter are Severely Injured in Apparatus Crash - Louisiana” – #2005 -28 , “One Career Fire Fighter Dies and Two are Injured in Apparatus Crash – California – #2005 -27 , “Volunteer Fire Chief Dies From Injuries Sustained During a Tanker Rollover – Utah” – #2005 -01 , “Career Fire Fighter Dies After Falling From Tailboard and Being Backed Over by Engine – California”

Courage to make a difference – Wear your seat belt and demand that everyone else does too!