Hey…
A few days ago, you saw the 8 St. Louis Firefighters who suffered minor injuries after their 2 responding fire apparatus collided with each other. The crash was caught on tape by a nearby security camera….but here is a NEW version of the video tape. (See video below)
The GOOD news is that all members were seat belted in. When folks say that we collectively aren’t impacting our LODD’s, that is wrong-we are. Absolutely. While it will be impossible to eliminate all LODD’s (because of reasons from personal responsibility to training issues to supervision to the FACT that sometimes, when everything is done right, we still must take the rare necessary risk and that can result in a tragic ending)….but the crash in St Louis is demonstrative of how some things are changing, sorta. More and more apparatus crashes lately have shown all members being seat belted in. Firefighters belted in probably would not have been the case nationally 5 or more years ago…so there are some changes that have been made at FD’s all over North America.
The other issue though is those who drive our apparatus as well as those company officers who supervise those who drive apparatus. To get a real handle on the fire apparatus close calls and line of duty deaths, a simple conscientious effort to slow down when applicable, stop at red lights and stop signs-before blowing thru…by the drivers and officers…is what will really help us reduce some injuries and deaths. It will even allow us to actually ARRIVE on the scene of the call we were originally responding to. That’s the real answer to the WHY slow down…why NOT run red lights…and WHY NOT blow stop signs, until it’s clear to go.
Besides, it isn’t your apparatus-they just let you drive it….drive it like it ISN’T yours…and drive it AS IF it is your family in that next intersection.
Imagine if these members were NOT belted in.
CRASH VIDEO—TAKE A LOOK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXuKeBHY82g&e
While we all wanna get there quickly, we gotta get there….that’s the "why"…cause someone having a really bad day is waiting for "us" to get there.
Take Care-DRIVE CAREFULLY.
BillyG
The Secret List 10-19-08 / 1420 hours