1. FIREFIGHTER DEATH AND INJURY STATISTICS
US and NY STATE

2. The National Picture

3. Reality Check Civilian fatalities in the US
7,395
Source: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
“Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives”
3,675

4. US Firefighter Deaths source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2006 (not including 9/11/01 WTC deaths)

5. 2005 US Firefighter Deaths: Career & Volunteer source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2006 (not including 9/11/01 WTC deaths)

6. US Firefighter Deaths by Type of Duty, 2005 source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2006

7. US Firefighter Deaths by Cause of Injury, 2005 source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2006

8. US Firefighter Deaths by Nature of Injury, 2005 source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2006

9. US Firefighter Deaths by Age & Cause of Death, 2005 source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2006

10. US Firefighter Deaths in Motor Vehicle Accidents, 1995-2005 source: NFPA Journal, July-August 2006

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

12. 2005 Firefighter Fatalities Who is dying?
Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, suffered 25 deaths in 2005.
Volunteer firefighters accounted for 54 deaths.
Another 8 victims were civilian contractors or seasonal employees of federal wildland agencies.
The average age of firefighters who died in 2005 was 47 years - the youngest was 18 and the oldest was 76.

13. 2005 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying
2005 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying? Response/Return is still the most hazardous activity
Of the 13 deaths in road vehicles, five victims were not wearing seatbelts.
Excessive speed was a factor in at least 3 of the crashes.
Four firefighters died because of false alarms.
Three firefighters were killed when they were struck by vehicles at the scene of an emergency.

14. 2005 Firefighter Fatalities Why are we dying
2005 Firefighter Fatalities Why are we dying? Stress and overexertion are still the leading killers
The majority of firefighter deaths in 2005 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries. Heart attacks and strokes caused the deaths of 47 on-duty firefighters.
Almost half of the firefighters that died in 2005 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries.

15. 2005 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying?
The highest number of firefighter deaths occurred in New York, with 18 deaths in California and Texas were the next highest with 9 each.
Across the U.S., rural responses were just as dangerous as urban/suburban fire response.

16. 2005 Firefighter Fatalities What fireground activities where most dangerous?
11 Fire Attack
6 Search and Rescue
2 Incident Command
2 Water Supply
1 Scene Safety
5 Other

17. New York State Line of Duty Deaths and Injuries
Note: All figures are from NYS OFPC. Injury stats are from the NYS Fire Incident Reporting System (report IIC series). Since participation is voluntary, the numbers are incomplete and reflect only reported casualties.

18. New York State Line of Duty Deaths, 1995-2005 (not including 343 FDNY deaths 9/11/01 at WTC)

19. January through June 2005 NYS Line of Duty Deaths

20. 2005 NYS Fire Service Injuries & Deaths by Activity
Other Activity,
Apparatus or
Undetermined
Driving/Riding
Station
or No
Vehicle
Activity
Response
10% 4%
16%
Extinguishing
/Neutralizing
Incident
25%
Scene Activity 8%
EMS/Rescue
Suppression
12%
Support
Access/Egress 3%
22%

21. 2005 NYS Fire Service Deaths & Injuries by Type of Duty

22. 2005 NYS Fire Service Injuries & Deaths by Cause

23. 2005 NYS Fire Service Casualties by Symptom
Notes:
Burn includes scald, chemical
& electrical
Other includes various causes (each less than
1%) and undeter-
mined and no response

24. 2005 NYS Firefighter Injuries & Deaths by Location

25. 2005 NYS Fire Vehicle Accidents (source: NYS DMV)
There were a total of 199 fire apparatus accidents in Two persons died, and 263 were injured.
59 of the occupants were unrestrained (no harness, belt or air bag) at time of accident.

26. NYS DMV Fire Vehicle Accident Reports: Manner of Collision, (accident not necessarily caused by FD driver)
Top human factors cited:
(32) Failure to yield right of way
(29) Driver inattention
(12) Following too closely
(7) Unsafe speed
(5) Passing or lane change improper
Top environmental factors cited:
(8) Slippery pavement
(5) Obstructed, impaired or limited view

27. 2005 NYS Ambulance Accidents (source: NYS DMV)
There were a total of 493 acci-dents, killing 5 and injuring 731.
136 injured occu-pants were unrestrained (no harness, belt or air bag) at time of accident.

28. NYS DMV Ambulance Accident Reports: Manner of Collision, (accident not necessarily caused by EMS driver)
Top human factors cited:
(66) Driver inattention
(63) Failure to yield right of way
(33) Following too closely
(17) Traffic control disregarded
(12) Unsafe speed
Top environmental factors cited:
(23) Slippery pavement
(8) Obstructed, impaired or limited view

29. The End Based on National Fallen Firefighters Foundation “Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives.” Adapted 8/06 with statistics from NFPA, NYS DMV & NYS OFPC by the Library, OFPC Academy of Fire Science