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Ahh the hot button issue... Seatbelts
What are your thoughts about them? What are your departments policies? Are they actually enforced? Is it tough to get compliance?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dan Hoey on
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My thought, policies and compliance are all different. I am 6'3'' and 265 add gear and pack and then try and seat belt me in a jump seat of a truck and you get a bad view. Our insurance company says wear them or white hat asks we do and they are still tucked under the seat. I understand why they want them worn but is it real on the way to a call no, all other times if out driving yes.
Like the tag systems I said ok with the first tag and whatever with the second tag, now I have people asking for four tags on my gear? I get safety I dont get when its out of control
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Permalink Reply by Kristy Oxholm on
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How many firefighters do we have to kill by ejecting them from apparatus because they are not belted before this is no longer an issue? We should not be wearing them because the insurance company says to or because the Chief says to... We should be wearing them because we are reasonably intelligent human beings that have seen, more than the general public has, that flying through the air with the greatest of ease always ends with coming back to earth and devestating consequences!!!!!
My department has a policy that they will be worn and we are all used to it and have no problems with complicance.
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Permalink Reply by Decker on
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Dan I would have to disagree with, being 6'3" and 250 lbs myself I would rather have a fighting chance in an accident being "strapped in" rather than being thrown clear of my seat and who knows what else. Fire trucks are not made for comfort and we just need to suck it up and all step to the plate why do we needlessly keep killing ourselves from foolish mistakes?!?!
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To answer your question according to national data on line of duty deaths 1 fire fighter was killed that way when his rig flipped over. I am glad your department has equipment that can be used this way, but I can tell you of numerous places they don't have seatbelts on the rigs and cant afford to buy them. If we want to spend millions on safety lets get everyone in safe turn out gear or allow all departments to have fire fighter locater equipment. To mandate seat belts but allow them to say no live burn training because its not safe for us and the ground water or to allow volunteers around this country to do this job with unsafe gear because they don't have money makes me know I may not be a "reasonably intelligent" human but I know this issues is so far down the list of whats needed that well I don't care.
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Permalink Reply by Captain Steven Long on
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Our department has a policy in place and has had this policy in place for quite some time. Does it get adhered to....not always. This is where the company officer needs to make a stand to ensure the safety of his/her crew. As an officer I have the duty to ensure that my crew is protected from the moment we are dispatched to the time they get to their own homes. So many firefighter have been killed or severly injured by not taking the precautions that are in place to protect them. The Super Hero complex has got to stop!
Oh, put your gear on before you get on the truck for a call!
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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on
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This should not be a hot button issue at all, seatbelts are not on the rigs for decoration. You should be able to get into your gear in second, on the rig and belted before it pulls off the tarmac. I always, always wear my belt. Not only do I not want to leave my teethmarks in the windshield as I make exit from the vehicle, I also do not want to become a projectile and kill my co-workers. Most people think solely of themselves when they choose not to wear a seatbelt, but the reality is, you may still live, but you may kill the another passenger in the rig.
We move around to a couple of different stations when we are new, some Capt enforce wearing the seatbelts and some do not. Some firefighters giggle when you do up your belt and others take the cue and also put theirs on. I could care less what others think about me wearing one, it keeps me safe and keeps me alive (unless killed by someone not wearing one of course).
There is a young lady in Kingston, ON fighting for her life right now because the door on her rig opened and she fell out. She was not belted in and has been in a coma for a week. The Capt in Waterbury had to be extricated out of his windshield, a tanker driver in Texas died from a split skull after being ejected from his vehicle in a rollover. (these are sadly, only a very small percentage of deaths or serious injuries in the last couple of years) Why is the alternative such a difficult task?? The second I get into the rig, I'm in my pack, straps pulled over the shoulders, waist strap on and tightened, reach the seatbelt with one hand, clip in into the other side with the other hand and I'm ready to go. I keep my gloves in my pants pocket, my helmet beside my seat and my rechargeable flashlight is hanging right beside my seat. And, if you're responding to a medical or priority two or just driving around, there is absolutely no excuse!
Wearing a seatbelt should NOT be an OPTION. We are the rescuers, we should not also have to be the rescued.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on
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Not olny d we have a policy, the new trucks will have contrasting color seatbelts so that the officer can turn around and see that everyone is buckled in. Not having seat belts should be a crime. How old are these trucks without seatbelts anyhow?
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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I have 2 aspects to this story. First off going to a working fire (after responding to the station for the engine) getting geared up and packed up while in a seat belt it virtually impossible. Combine this with the fact it always "seems" to be 3am when this occurs. If your the driver, seatbelts are a must, your not getting equipment on or a SCBA on. Our department policy is iron clad to wear seatbelts, although it is common sense that at times this is not possible.
However, for minor calls, (illegal burns, brush fires, MVA's etc) you are expected to have a belt on to respond and also at all times returning from any call or training. You have to pick your spots so to speak.
It is horrible that people die in motor vehical accidents. I read the statistics that some people die from the seat belt being on as well. I don't condone not wearing a belt, its a force of habit I have had since being a child. If it gives you even a slight chance of less injury its worth it. Again not trying to sound repetative and or posting complete metaphores in what I have said, I think responding to a dwelling or structure fire, getting geared up/SCBA on is done without a safety belt and when I am geared up, the belt goes on. Be well and stay safe out there.
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Permalink Reply by Crystal Rutledge on
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We have seatbelts and our SOP's state that we are required to wear them but yet no one, including the officers ever wears them.
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I think it is a matter of time before the seats are weight sensative and the rig won't drive unless the seat with an occupant has a belt secured. Perhaps they could do this for cars and trucks as well. If they have airbag turn on due to weight in a seat, theres no reason they couldnt do this for apparatus.
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You could set the good example instead of following their poor one. :)
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I would really like to see the statistics that people die from the seat belt being on...
There used to be a seat belt ad that showed a NY State Trooper saying he had never unbuckled a dead man. I won't go that far, but I will say that in 20+ years of responding to MV accidents, I have never unbuckled a dead man that would have survived without the seat belt. (If you hit a very large tree at 100+ mph straight on no seatbelt is going to save you, nor is not wearing one!)
We need to wear seatbelts. If you are concerned that you can't put your pack on once you get to the scene then spend time sitting in the station putting it on over and over again.
I think if we keep killing firefighters because they don't wear their belts, with the excuse that the can't pack up if it is on, we will see airpack seats being phased out. Before we had these seats you had to put your pack on after you got to the scene...
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