2009 isn’t starting out on a positive trend as far as firefighter LODDs go. Accordingly, the IAFC yesterday issued a Fire/EMS Survival Alert to its members. The goal: get departments to redouble their efforts to prevent firefighter injuries and deaths by reviewing and establishing safe practices for driving, MVAs, health and fitness and more.

The alert noted that so far in 2009, just some fire/EMS LODDs include:

• Several firefighter LODDs due to medical emergencies
• One firefighter struck and killed by backing apparatus at a working fire
• One firefighter killed in a crash between apparatus and a firefighter’s POV
• An apparatus MVA vs. structure returning from an incident
• One firefighter electrocuted at MVA scene
• Two firefighters killed when they fell from the bucket of an aerial device during training
• One firefighter shot at an EMS incident scene
• Two firefighters killed in a mobile-home fire
• One firefighter killed in an apparatus crash while responding to a reported structural fire

It also provided links to a wealth of resources firefighters and departments can use to create and review SOPs for safety. Some of those resources include:

• Fire Fighter (Lieutenant) Killed and One Fire Fighter Injured Durin...
• NIOSH Safety Advisory: Improper Set-up of Aerial Ladders with a Loc...
• Safety Week: Vehicle Safety Resources
• USFA: Emergency Vehicle Safety
• NIOSH CVD Alert: Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities Due to Heart At...
• Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters Due to Truss System...s
• Leading Recommendations for Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities, 199...
• www.healthy-firefighter.org
• www.everyonegoeshome.com
• www.firefighternearmiss.com/Links
• www.firefighterclosecalls.com

For more information and help related to the prevention of any firefighter/EMS personnel LODD, visit the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival Section's Web site.