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National Firefighter Safety Stand Down 2006

Everyone Goes Home!

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Introduction

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and it’s national partners are urging

fire departments to begin a special emphasis

on June 21st focusing on firefighter safety. 

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TEEX and all Texas fire agencies fully support the IAFC with this effort

and encourages all departments across Texas and the United States to place a

priority on safe operations for all personnel and functions.

We must assure that

Everyone Goes Home!We must assure that

Everyone Goes Home!

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State Fire Marshal State Fire Marshal

State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association

of Texas

State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association

of Texas

Fire Fighters’ Pension Commissioner

Fire Fighters’ Pension Commissioner

Texas Forest ServiceTexas Forest ServiceTexas Commission onFire Protection

Texas Commission onFire Protection

National VolunteerFire Council

National VolunteerFire Council

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On Tuesday, June 21, 2006, TEEX / ESTI will conduct special

“Firefighter Safety Awareness” sessions

• 14 Locations across Texas

– Longview

– Springtown

– Round Rock

– Sherman

– College Station (2)

– Lake Jackson

– Bremond

– Wichita Falls

– Brownsville

– Floydada

– Houston

– Ft. Stockton

– Leander

– Del Rio

For information: 979-458-2270

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Agenda

• Reason for Stand Down

• Line of Duty Death (LODD) Statistics

– 2005

– 2006

• Areas of Focus

– Vehicle Safety - Case Studies & Recommendations

– Physical Fitness and Training

• Summary

• Additional Materials

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Moment of Silence

To honor our brothers and sisters who have fallen….

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Reason for “Stand Down”

Call attention to the number of preventable line-of-duty deaths and injuries among firefighters.

• As of May 31st there have been 38 firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODD) in the US.

– To include 3 LODD in Texas.

• 106 firefighters died in the line of duty in 2005.

– 26 in vehicle accidents.

source: www.usfa.fema.gov

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United States Firefighter LODDs

• Heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters in 2005 (down from 61 in 2004)

• Vehicle crashes took the lives of 26 firefighters in 2005

• 5 killed in tanker (tender) crashes

• 5 killed in crashes involving passenger vehicles

• 4 killed in pumper crashes

• Firefighters were also killed in crashes involving ATVs, aircraft, and a boat.

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Statistics

Line-of-Duty Deaths (LODD)

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2005 Statistics – On Duty

• The average age of a firefighter killed in 2005 was 46.

• The youngest firefighter to die was an 18-year-old Connecticut firefighter who died after falling from a ladder during training.

• The oldest firefighter to die was a 76-year-old New Jersey firefighter who was struck by a suspected drunk driver at a roadside emergency scene.

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LODD Statistics 2005Classification

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63

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Career

Volunteer

Wildland &Other

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LODD Statistics 2005

Type of Duty

23%

3%

25%7%

14%

12%

16%

RespondingTrainingOn-Scene FireOn-Scene Non-FireAfterOther On-DutyReturning

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LODD Statistics 2005

Firefighter Deaths by Cause of Injury

5%

7%

5%

25%

5%

53%

Overexertion or stress

Struck by or contact with

Caught or Trapped

Falls

Vehicle Collision

Other

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2005 Firefighter DeathsTop 5 by State

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97 7

6

02468

1012141618

New York

Texas

California

Pennsylvania

Kentucky

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2005 Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fatal Incident:

• 1 - Maryland

• 2 - Michigan

• 3 - Missouri

• 3 - Mississippi

• 4 - North Carolina

• 1 - Nebraska

• 1 - New Hampshire

• 5 - New Jersey

• 2 - New Mexico

• 1 - Nevada

• 17 - New York

• 1 - Oklahoma

• 1 - Oregon

• 7 - Pennsylvania

• 1 - South Carolina

• 1 - South Dakota

• 3 - Tennessee

• 9 - Texas

• 1 - Utah

• 1 - Virginia

• 1 - Wisconsin

• 2 - West Virginia

• 2 - Wyoming

• 1 - Iraq

• 4 - Alabama

• 1 - Arkansas

• 1 - Arizona

• 8 - California

• 2 - Connecticut

• 2 - Delaware

• 3 - Florida

• 3 - Georgia

• 2 - Iowa

• 2 - Kansas

• 6 - Kentucky

• 1 - Louisiana

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Line-of-Duty Deaths

2006!Date Range: 1/1/2006 to 5/31/2006

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2006 YTD Line-of-Duty Firefighter Fatalities:

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Classification:

• 11 Career (28.9%)

• 1 Wildland Full-Time (2.63%)

• 1 Paid-on-Call (2.63%)

• 23 Volunteer (60.5%)

• 2 Unknown (5.26%)

• Number of Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents: 1

• Number of Wildland Firefighter Fatalities: 5

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2006 - Type of Duty:

• 4 Responding (10.5%)

• 3 Training (7.89%)

• 14 On-Scene Fire (36.8%)

• 4 On-Scene Non-Fire (10.5%)

• 8 After (21.0%)

• 4 Other On-Duty (10.5%)

• 1 Other (2.63%)

• Percent of Fatalities Related to Emergency Duty: 63.1%

• Number of firefighter fatalities associated with suspicious/arson fires: 1

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2006 - Cause of Fatal Injury:

• 5 Caught/Trapped (13.1%)

• 21 Stress/Overexertion (55.2%)

• 1 Exposure (2.63%)

• 1 Collapse (2.63%)

• 3 Struck by (7.89%)

• 5 Vehicle Collision (13.1%)

• 1 Lost (2.63%)

• 1 Other (2.63%)

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2006 - Nature of Fatal Injury:

• 3 Asphyxiation (7.89%)

• 3 Crushed (7.89%)

• 1 Burns (2.63%)

• 2 CVA (5.26%)

• 8 Trauma (21.0%)

• 19 Heart Attack (50.0%)

• 2 Other (5.26%)

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2006 - Age of Firefighter When the Fatal Injury Was Sustained:

• 1 - Under 21

• 2 - 21 to 25

• 1 - 26 to 30

• 10 - 31 to 40

• 7 - 41 to 50

• 10 - 51 to 60

• 6 - 61 and Over

• 2 - Unknown

Percent of Firefighter Fatalities Under Age 40 – 31.6%

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2006 - Firefighter DeathsTop States

5

4

3 3 3

0

1

2

3

4

5

New York

Tennessee

Texas

North Carolina

New Jersey

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2006 - Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fatal Incident:

• 3 - New Jersey

• 1 - New Mexico

• 5 - New York

• 2 - Oklahoma

• 2 - Pennsylvania

• 1 - South Carolina

• 1 - South Dakota

• 4 - Tennessee

• 3 - Texas

• 1 - Washington

• 2 - Alabama

• 1 – California

• 1 - Colorado

• 1 - Georgia

• 1 - Illinois

• 1 - Kansas

• 1 – Michigan

• 1 - Missouri

• 2 - Mississippi

• 3 - North Carolina

• 1 – New Hampshire

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2006 - Texas Fire Service Line-of-duty Deaths since Jan 1, 2006

• Jan. 3 – Richard Longoria, 54, Corpus Christi

Stress/Overexertion  (Cerebrovascular Accident)

• Mar. 12 – James McMorries, 62, Howardwick

Vehicle Collision (Trauma)

• Apr. 3 – David Moore, 40, Houston

Stress/Overexertion  (Cerebrovascular Accident)

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Stand Down - Focus

• Emergency vehicle safety, including

– Seatbelt usage

– Safe driving through intersections

– Roadside

• Additional Focus:

– Physical Fitness

– Training

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Vehicle Safety

Our Focus !

Your Focus !

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Motor Vehicle Collisions (MVCs)

• Since 1984, MVCs have accounted for between 20 and 25 percent of firefighter fatalities annually.

• One quarter of firefighters who died in MVCs were killed in private/personally owned vehicles (POVs).

• Following POVs, the apparatus most often involved in fatal collisions were tankers, engines/pumpers, and airplanes.

– More firefighters are killed in tanker collisions than in engines and ladders combined.

• About 27 percent of fatalities in MVCs the firefighter was ejected from the vehicle at the time of the collision;

– Only 21 percent were reportedly wearing their seatbelts prior to the collision.

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It can only happen to the other guy…

To everyone else

YOU are the OTHER GUY !!

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Vehicle Safety

Case Studies & Recommendations

source: www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire

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Case Study #1Volunteer Firefighter Dies and Two

Injured in Engine Rollover - Alabama

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Recommendation #1.1: Fire departments should develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the safe and

prudent operation of emergency vehicles.

• NFPA 1500 § 4-2.3 states: "Drivers of fire department vehicles shall be directly responsible for the safe and prudent operation of the vehicles under all conditions. . . "

• NFPA 1451 § 5.3 states “that fire department personnel must be trained in and exercise applicable principles of defensive driving techniques under both emergency and nonemergency conditions…”

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Recommendation #1.2: Fire departments should ensure that drivers of fire department vehicles receive driver training

at least twice a year.

• Driver training should be provided to all driver/operators as often as necessary to meet the requirements of NFPA 1451, but not less than twice a year.

– This training should be documented and cover defensive driving techniques during emergency and nonemergency conditions.

• Additionally, fire departments’ driver training should be in accordance with:

– NFPA 1451, Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program and,

– NFPA 1002, Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications.

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Case Study #2

One Part-time Fire Fighter Dies and Another Is Seriously Injured When Two Fire Engines Collide at

an Intersection While Responding to a Fire - Illinois

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Recommendation #2.1: Fire departments should provide training to driver/operators as often as necessary to meet the

requirements of NFPA 1451, 1500, and 1002. This training should incorporate specifics on intersection practices.

• In NFPA 1451, Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program, Chapter 5.3.1 states that fire department personnel must be trained in, and exercise applicable principles of, defensive driving techniques under both emergency and non-emergency conditions.

• Chapter 6.2.7.1 states that procedures for emergency response must emphasize that the safe arrival of fire apparatus at the emergency scene is the first priority.

• To reduce the risk of crashes and injury or death, Chapter 6.2.8 states that fire apparatus must come to a complete stop in a number of situations including red traffic lights, stop signs, negative right-of-way intersections, blind intersections, and when the driver cannot account for all lanes of traffic in an intersection.

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Recommendation #2.2: Fire departments should develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOP ) for seat belt

usage, intersection practices, and response to mutual/automatic aid incidents.

• Standard vehicle operation procedures should include but not be limited to defensive driving techniques, seat belt use, and intersection practices.

– SOPs should be comprehensive and encompass training and procedures for incidents involving mutual and automatic aid.

– SOPs should be written, periodically reviewed, and enforced.

• Fire departments should enforce SOPs on the use of seat belts.

– The SOPs should apply to all persons riding in emergency vehicles and should state that all persons on board must be seated and secured in an approved riding position whenever the vehicle is in motion.

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Recommendation #2.2: Continued

• The SOPs should include defensive driving practices, particularly as they relate to intersections.

• NFPA 1710 and 1720 both address response to automatic/mutual aid incidents.

– NFPA 1720, Chapter 4.7.2, for example, states “Procedures and training of personnel for all fire departments in mutual aid, automatic aid, and fire protection agreement plans shall be comprehensive to produce an effective fire force and to ensure uniform operations.”

• NFPA 1620, Recommended Practice for Pre-incident Planning provides guidance to assist departments in establishing pre-incident plans.

– Pre-incident planning includes agreements formed by a coalition of all involved parties including mutual-and automatic-aid fire departments, EMS, and law enforcement personnel, to help ensure a coordinated response to emergency situations.

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Case Study #3

Career Fire Fighter/Emergency Medical Technician Dies from Injuries Sustained in Fall from Apparatus -

California

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Recommendation #3.1: Fire departments should ensure that all persons responding in emergency apparatus are wearing and

secured by seat belts or safety restraints at all times the vehicle is in motion.

• Fire fighters and emergency responders make many life-and-death decisions during a tour of duty, and one of the most important for their own safety is securing the seat belt after climbing aboard a responding emergency apparatus.

– It is equally critical that personnel remain seated and restrained until they have arrived at their destination and the apparatus has come to a safe stop.

• NFPA 1500 states that “seat belts shall not be released or loosened for any purpose while the vehicle is in motion, including the donning of respiratory protection equipment or protective clothing.”

– Departments should enforce and repeatedly train all personnel on safety rules, including the use of safety restraints when riding in emergency vehicles.

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Recommendation #3.1: Continued

• NFPA 1901 Chapter 14.1.1 states that “each crew riding position shall be within a fully enclosed personnel area.”

• Although newer apparatus are designed with fully enclosed cabs, older apparatus with jump seat riding areas are still in service.

– Some of these are equipped with safety bars or gates that are intended to prevent a fire fighter from falling out of a jump seat.

– However, these devices do not substitute for safety procedures that require fire fighters to ride in enclosed positions secured by an approved restraint system.

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Ensure…

• Fully enclosed seating is provided for all members riding on the fire apparatus.

• Warning lights meet the current standard.

• Reflective striping meets the current standard.

• Slip resistance of walking surfaces and handrails meets the current standard.

• Ground and step lights meet the current standard.

• Noise levels in the driving and crew compartment(s) meet the current standard.

• Tires and suspension are in serviceable condition.

• All horns and sirens are relocated from the roof to a position as low and as far forward as possible.

• Seat belts are available for every seat and are new or in serviceable condition.

• Sign plates are present stating no riding on open areas.

• All loose equipment in the driving and crew areas is securely mounted to prevent its movement in case of an accident.

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Case Study #4

Volunteer Assistant Chief is Struck and Killed at Road Construction Site - Minnesota

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Recommendation #4.1: Fire departments should ensure that fire apparatus are positioned to protect fire fighters from

traffic.

• As stated in NFPA 1451 (8.1.4.1), “fire service vehicles shall be utilized as a shield from oncoming traffic whenever possible.”

• Apparatus should be angled on the roadway to create a physical barrier between the work area and approaching traffic.

• Emergency personnel should stay within the “shadow” created by the blocking apparatus at all times.

• Forward-facing lights such as headlights should be turned off to prevent distracting motorists traveling in the opposite direction.

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Recommendation #4.2: Fire departments should establish, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding safe work practices while responding to calls in or

near moving traffic.

• Fire fighters working in or near moving traffic are in danger of being struck by motor vehicles. Department SOPs can help establish safe work practices in such situations.

• SOPs should include, but not be limited to, the following:

– positioning apparatus to provide a physical barrier between responders and moving traffic, operating defensively (e.g., never turn your back on traffic when working in a non-secure area),

– methods to establish a secure work area, releasing the scene back to normal operation, and wearing appropriate personal protective apparel.

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Recommendation #4.3: Fire departments should train personnel in safe procedures for operating in or near moving

traffic.

• Emergency responders should operate defensively with an awareness of the high risk associated with working in or near moving traffic.

• Training should include, but not be limited to, positioning apparatus to create a physical barrier between traffic and the work area, and wearing helmets and high-visibility safety apparel at all times.

– Because each incident varies, all emergency responders should have ongoing, appropriate, task-specific training.

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Recommendation #4.4: Fire departments should ensure that when operating at an emergency scene, personnel wear high-

visibility safety apparel suitable to the incident, such as highly-visible, reflectorized flagger’s vest (e.g., strong yellow-green or orange).

• Personnel working in or around moving traffic need to be highly visible, especially at night.

– Personnel working in such settings are considered “highway workers” by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and, thus, fall under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regulations.

• Section 6E.02 of the MUTCD describes high-visibility clothing requirements.

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VFIS Recommends

The Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services (VFIS) recommends the following specific practices for controlled intersections such as existed in this incident (those controlled by a stop sign, yield sign, or yellow or red traffic lights):

• Scan the intersection for possible hazards, e.g., right turns on red and vehicles traveling fast. Do not rely on warning devices to clear traffic.

• Begin to slow down well before reaching the intersection and continue to scan in all directions.

• Change the siren cadence at least 200 feet from the intersection.

• Scan the intersection for possible passing options avoiding the use of the opposing traffic lane if possible.

• If the driver cannot account for traffic in all lanes in an intersection, he/she should bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

• Establish eye contact with other vehicle drivers.

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Additional Focus Needed on:

• Physical Fitness

• Training

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Physical Fitness

Our Number One Killer…..

…..Only YOU can change it!!!

Our Number One Killer…..

…..Only YOU can change it!!!

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Physical Fitness

• Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer!

• Exercise 30 minutes a day.

• Assess your own weaknesses and work to improve them.

• Diet plays a part.

• Stay hydrated.

• Support / encourage each others fitness goals.

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Training

• Practice Like You Play…

• Engage in ALL Rules…

• Practice Like You Play…

• Engage in ALL Rules…

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Training

• Training is vital to safety and success.

• Assess your weakness and address them.

• Strive to learn new things every day.

• Critique emergency responses while they are still fresh in your mind.

• Share the training responsibility, you learn more as a teacher than as a student.

• Train, train, train…

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Summary

• Firefighter deaths are at an unacceptable level.

– You can work to change that

• Identify risks and work to reduce them.

• SOPs – Develop them, Follow them, Train on them.

• Strive to improve your fitness level.

• Train, Train, Train…

• Make a promise:

– Everyone Goes Home!

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TEEX and all other State Agencies in the Texas Fire Service encourage you

to spread the word & promote this safety awareness program.

Everyone Goes HomeEveryone Goes Home

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Information available at:

• www.teex.com/esti

• www.iafc.org/standdown

• www.everyonegoeshome.com

• www.nvfc.org

• www.healthy-firefighter.org

• www.respondersafety.com

• www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire

• www.usfa.fema.gov

• www.vfis.com

• www.nvfc.org/evsp

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Thank You & Be Safe…..

• TEEX / ESTI

– 979.845.7641 or 866.878.8900

– www.teex.com/esti