First responders are killing themselves, one seatbelt at a time.

Like lemmings drawn to the edge of a precipice, firefighters, EMT's, Fire police and other emergency responders are engaged in a race to the death, literally. Rollovers, ejections,blunt force trauma, crush victims, decapitations.....do I have your attention yet? We talk about how to do the job better and faster, and the volunteer services in particular seem to feel the compulsion to defend or justify their efforts vs. the response times and effectiveness of paid firefighters.

Compelled to perform heroic tasks in thankless times, with limited or no recognition, volunteer firefighters are risking their lives on a daily basis. Commendable? Sure, absolutely...these folks are my heroes and THEY are what have prodded me to finally walk the walk and take the first steps to volunteer for my local department. I love and respect them all and they are why I do what I do.

Are they addle-brained adrenaline junkies who take unneccessary risks and place the lives of their potential rescuees and their own lives in jeopardy? Sometimes, yes, they are.

Seatbelts....use them. There is NEVER EVER NEVER a situation that warrants disregarding seatbelt usage. I challenge ONE member of this network to justify the elimination of seatbelts while rolling out to the call. If you can prove to me, beyond all reasonable doubt, that NOT using a seatbelt when responding to an emergency made a quantifiable difference. I will not only eat one of my shoes, I will videotape said act and send it to you, all wrapped up in pretty paper and tied in a nice bow.

Do you want to challenge me? Fine, go right ahead, and while you're at it, would you mind completing a living will so that your loved ones have something to go by when finalizing the details of your LODD service?