1. FIREFIGHTER DEATH AND INJURY STATISTICS US and NY STATE 2008-2009

2. source: USFA Provisional Report 1/1/2009 to 12/31/2009 Preliminary USFA figures for 2009 source: USFA Provisional Report 1/1/2009 to 12/31/2009

3. Preliminary 2009 USFA LODD statistics (NFPA narrowly defines “firefighter” and “line of duty,” so their numbers are generally about 10% smaller) 93 firefighter LODDs were reported to USFA, 8 of which were in New York 47 were volunteers; 38 were career There were 6 multiple-fatality incidents There were 15 fatal wildland incidents and 22 fatal structure fires

4. Preliminary 2009 USFA LODD statistics There were 38 deaths unrelated to an incident. (For example, heart attacks at home) If incident-related, the most dangerous type of duty associated with LODD was on-scene fire (28 deaths)

5. Preliminary 2009 USFA LODD statistics Stress/overexertion was by far the biggest killer (52 deaths) Heart attack was the biggest medical factor, causing 41 deaths The 41-50 and 51-60 year age brackets were most at risk overall

6. Preliminary 2009 NYS Line-of-duty deaths Walter Hessling, Dix Hills, 11/27/09 – Stroke following response to MVA Patrick Joyce, Yonkers, 10/2/09 – Jumped from 3 rd floor to escape flames Richard Holst, Huntington, 9/9/09 – Undetermined collapse at fire scene Charles “Chip” McCarthy, Buffalo, 8/24/09 Jonathan Croom, Buffalo, 8/24/09 Paul Warhola, Brooklyn, NY, 8/14/09 - Cerebrovascular accident at scene Robert Johnson, Mahopac Falls, 7/5/09 – Fell at the scene of a fire safety demo Mark Bradley Davis, Cape Vincent, 1/31/09 – Shot by mentally disturbed EMS patient Lt McCarthy & FF Croom were killed while searching a burning commercial structure when the main floor collapsed

7. The National Picture: analysis of 2008 deaths source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2009

8. US Firefighter Deaths (not including 9/11/01 WTC deaths)

9. US Firefighter Deaths: Career & Volunteer 1998 - 2008 (not including 9/11/01 WTC deaths)

10. US Firefighter Deaths by Type of Duty, 2008 source: USFA

11. US Firefighter Deaths by Cause of Injury, 2008 source: USFA

12. US Firefighter Deaths by Nature of Injury, 2008 source: USFA

13. source: USFA US Firefighter Deaths by Age & Cause of Death, 2008 source: USFA

14. US Firefighter Deaths in Motor Vehicle Accidents, 1998-2008

15. Background Information on US Firefighter Deaths Sources: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation National Fire Protection Association US Fire Administration

16. 2008 Firefighter Fatalities Who is dying? Career firefighters (defined as those who are employed full-time as firefighters) suffered 46 deaths in 2008. Volunteer and part-time paid firefighters accounted for 68 deaths. 41% of firefighter fatalities were under the age of 40.

17. 2008 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying? Nationally, fireground activities are the most hazardous. Response/return was third: Of the 15 deaths in road vehicles, 2 victims were not wearing seatbelts. Additionally 13 were killed in wildland aircraft crashes. 6 firefighters were killed when struck by vehicles at the scene of an emergency.

18. 2008 Firefighter Fatalities Why are we dying? Stress and overexertion are still the leading killers The largest single cause of firefighter deaths in 2008 was sudden cardiac vascular or cardiac events. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 46 on- duty firefighters; 4 died of cardiac vascular accidents. More than half of 2008 firefighter deaths were from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries.

19. 2008 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying? 47% of firefighter deaths on the fireground were in residential occupancies. Residential fires accounted over 75% of civilian deaths. They also cause roughly eight of ten firefighter injuries every year.

20. 2008 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying? Across the US, rural response is generally just as dangerous as urban / suburban fire response.

21. New York State Line of Duty Deaths and Injuries Injury statistics for 2009 are not yet final, so 2008 is used. Note: Injury statistics are from the NYS Fire Incident Reporting System (report II C series). Since participation is voluntary, the numbers are incomplete and reflect only reported casualties. FDNY deaths are included, but injuries are not.

22. New York State Line of Duty Deaths, 1999-2009 (not including 343 FDNY deaths 9/11/01 at WTC) 2009

23. 2008 NYS Fire Service Injuries & Deaths by Activity

24. 2008 NYS Fire Service Deaths & Injuries by Type of Duty

25. 2008 NYS Fire Service Injuries & Deaths by Cause

26. 2008 NYS Fire Service Casualties by Symptom Note: Burn i ncludes chemical, electrical & scald

27. 2008 NYS Firefighter Injuries & Deaths by Location

28. 2008 NYS Fire Vehicle Accidents (source: NYS DMV) There were a total of 364 fire apparatus accidents in 2008. Two persons died (both drivers, one driving a non-fire vehicle) and 293 were injured.

29. NYS DMV Fire Vehicle Accident Reports: Manner of Collision, 2008 (accident not necessarily caused by FD driver) Top human factors cited: (36) Driver inattention (31) Failure to yield right of way (16) Turning improperly (11) Passing or lane change improper Top environmental factors cited: (17) Slippery pavement (7) Obstructed or limited view

30. 2008 NYS Ambulance Accidents (source: NYS DMV) There were a total of 574 accidents, but no fatalities this year 609 persons were injured (Includes EMS responders, patients, those in other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.)

31. NYS DMV Ambulance Accident Reports: Manner of Collision, 2008 (accident not necessarily caused by EMS driver) Top human factors cited: (81) Driver inattention (78) Failure to yield right of way (35) Following too closely (24) Traffic control disregarded (23) Unsafe speed (19) Turning improperly Top environmental factors cited: (25) Animals action (24) Slippery pavement (22) Obstructed or limited view

32. For more information: Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008 (USFA) http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/ff_fat08.pdf Firefighter Fatalities in the United States 2008 (NFPA) http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/osfff.pdf http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/osfff.pdf Firefighter Injuries in the United States (NFPA, 2009) http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/OS.firefighterInjuries.pdf http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/OS.firefighterInjuries.pdf Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries (NFPA, 2009) http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/OS.patterns.pdfhttp://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/OS.patterns.pdf What’s Changed Over the Past 30 Years? (NFPA, 2007) http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/whatschanged.pdf

33. Thank you! Based on: “Firefighter Fatalities in the US in 2008” and “What’s Changed Over the Past 30 Years?” published in NFPA Journal, July-August 2009, p.60-67 USFA “Provisional Report” for 2009 and statistical reports from NYS DMV & NYS OFPC. Data compiled by the Diana Robinson Thank you!