POV Responses Date: 2006 Time of Day: 2000 Location: Stadium Blvd / Providence Rd Response Mode: Emergency Response Description: While responding to a structure fire with lights and siren, the POV approached a red light. The POV came to a complete stop at the beginning of intersection but did not clear all of the lanes. The POV was struck by a driver who had a green light and did not see the POV.

Contributing Factors Stress Distractions – Mobile Radios – Emergency lights and siren – Map Books – Text Tones – Passengers Narrow roadways Excessive Speeds Large/Heavy trucks Different apparatus types Visibility (fog, dust, smoke, etc.)

How long will it take me to stop? Miles per hour × = feet per second Traveling 55 mph would mean that you travel 80 feet per second Air brakes often take second to react after you press the pedal A fire truck traveling 55mph will take 393 feet to sop on a dry pavement roadway

Freightliner

Kenworth

Equipment in the cab

Where should I put my gear?

Ways to Improve Always wear your seatbelt – 75% of firefighters killed in apparatus were not wearing seatbelts (NIOSH) Use a backer (use larger area) Come to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs Keep your focus on driving Slow Down

A Culture of Safety It is up to all of us to keep each other safe!

Where are we getting hurt? 1.Training 2.Entering/exiting vehicle 2.Slip/trip/fall 3.Fire Incident 4.EMS/Rescue Incident 5.Vehicle Crash * Every $1 on work comp expense yields $4-10 in indirect expenses

Injury Analysis Statistics YearTotal # of Incidents Totals53 ($196,870) Repair / Activity Cost New brakes with labor $1,400 Heavy wrecker $250 base pay Heavy wrecker (accident) $500 base pay

What gets impacted? Impact of the injury or death on emergency services – Reduction of manpower Impact of the damage to the fire department; vehicles and equipment lost Impact to the families involved: – Worker’s Compensation – Insurance benefits – Long range income projections Impact to the community with loss of apparatus or personnel

Situation #1 What do I do if I see someone not wearing a seatbelt? Or not using a backer?

Situation #2 What are my expectations when I respond by myself in an apparatus?