wilton emergency, inc

Wilton Emergency, IncWilton Emergency, Inc

Roadside Incident SafetyRoadside Incident Safety

Presented by Matt StefanacciPresented by Matt StefanacciEMT-Paramedic / Safety OfficerEMT-Paramedic / Safety Officer

Wilton EMSWilton EMS

Topics to cover:

Statistics of emergency responders struck by vehicles.

Hazards to be aware of Safety equipment & advice Advice & information specific to

management Local policy (Wilton EMS specific)

Target Audiences

EMS Agencies Fire Departments Police Agencies Any person that responds to an

emergency on a roadside

Roadside Incident – Stories from the Headlines

Rick Seiner, a longtime Citizens Memorial Healthcare employee and a member of the CMH ambulance crew, died Friday evening, Sept. 2, while working a motor vehicle accident. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Seiner was on Mo. 13, one mile south of Humansville, when he attempted to cross the roadway and was hit by a car.

9/6/2005 Courtesy www.Firehouse.com

Don’t let this happen to your agency…

Courtesy NIOSH 1999

This was a MVC on a 55 MPH road – 1 firefighter was killed, 1 was permanently disabled…

Do you want to be caught in this mess?

The Facts... Every year, the number of emergency responders that are

struck on America’s roadways is on the rise.* In a 2002 study by the Detroit times, over 6,500 ambulances

were involved in collisions with other vehicles.* EMS has the highest fatality rate amongst America’s First

Responders: 9.6 per 100,000.* Comparatively, fire fighters are 4.5 per 100,000 and police are

6.3 per 100,000.* On the average, 10 serious injuries occur a day in which an

ambulance is involved, or 3,650 serious injuries per year.*

* - Study courtesy of Brian J. Maguire & the Detroit Times 2002

The Facts... According to the NIOSH, over 175 Emergency responders

were struck on Americas roadways in 2003. Of these, 95% were at the scene of motor vehicle collisions.

Of these 175 emergency responders, 120 were firefighters. Of these 120 firefighters, 5 were killed. 93 were permanently or

seriously injured. 82% of firefighters hit on scene’s by cars are no longer active.

So, if EMS has over double the amount of fatalities per 100,000, then our statistics should be doubled.There are no accurate statistics for EMS providers other than what the NFPA has established (some personnel entered in the study were Paramedics). There is a joint study (NFPA, NIOSH & OSHA) due out in the near future that will reflect the true dangers of EMS…

The Facts…

•Headlights are set for 160 feet on low and 350 feet on high.**•Typical reaction time for braking is 1.5 seconds.•Add 100% time for alcohol or drug influence.•Add poor road conditions (snow, ice, rain, etc) and the stopping distances increase by 50%.•Add 25% stopping distance for UNLADEN trucks…•Add 50% stopping distance for LADEN trucks…

**All statistics compliments of National Transportation Safety Board & DOT, 2002

The Physics…Reaction Distance Braking Distance Stopping Distance

20 MPH 44 feet 25 feet 69 feet







NTSB 2002

The Reality…

A car traveling at 40 MPH will hit you… A car traveling 60 MPH with high-

beams on will hit you... You have the greatest chance of being

struck between the hours of 9 PM & 3 AM, by a male between 21 & 28 who is under the influence of alcohol…

Roadside Safety

Exercise

Roadside Emergencies Hazards

On the next slide, you will have 1.5 seconds to find the 3 emergency personnel in the picture…

The posted speed limit is 40 MPH The responders are about 120 feet from you in

this picture

Can you avoid them?Can you see them?

The Physics…Reaction Distance Braking Distance Stopping Distance








NTSB 2002

Find the emergency responders…

Did you see them?Or did you hit them?

1 2

3

Roadside Emergencies

Hazards to be aware of…

Four Topics that contribute to an Unsafe Roadside Incident

Insufficient Visibility The “Other” Vehicle Unsafe Distance between the public and

you Rogue Events

Ever have “One of those days?”


1) Insufficient visibilityA. Poor lighting conditions

B. Poor weather conditions (rain, snow, fog, etc)

C. Too many emergency warning lights!!!

D. Not enough traffic diversion devices (i.e.: road flares, triangles, lighted arrow sticks, etc)

E. Insufficient or non-existent reflective gear (vests, turnout gear, etc).

F. Obstacles (i.e.: parked vehicles, trees, etc)

Stories from the HeadlinesAn Essex County Sheriff’s Deputy conducting a traffic stop on the Adirondack Northway last night was killed after he was struck by a tractor-trailer. 31 year-old Eric Loiselle of Minerva had stopped a car for speeding three miles north of exit 30 in the Town of Moriah. While Loiselle was interviewing the driver, a tractor-trailer driven by 36 year-old Jacek Bujalski of Quebec, veered onto the side of the road and struck the deputy’s cruiser, which hit Loiselle and the car that he had stopped. NYSP Troop B is still investigating what caused Bujalski to swerve onto the shoulder. Right now the investigation looks as though it’s driver inattention and that could result in fatigue.Loiselle leaves behind a wife and a two year-old son.Courtesy of WNBZ News August 22, 2005


2) Watch out for the “other vehicle”A. Vehicles that are swerving or acting erratic

B. Vehicles that are traveling at a high velocity (this is ANY speed over 30 MPH)

C. Vehicles that are in YOUR lane

This is what “the other vehicle” looks like…


3) Insufficient distance between you and the driving public.A. Not shutting down or diverting traffic from the incident scene.

B. “Move Over Laws” – These laws make it illegal for vehicles to be driven within a specific distance to an emergency scene…

New York State’s Law S.04155, also known as the “Ambrose-Searles move over act” . More to come in the next few slides…

C. Hazard #1 – Insufficient visibility! If the oncoming driver can’t see you, then the can’t prevent hitting you!

As seen on Interstate in Indiana

Roadside Emergencies Hazards – What’s wrong with this picture?

Roadside Emergencies Hazards – What’s wrong with this picture?

1. How many people are watching traffic?

2. Truck is not properly positioned.

3. Look where the middle of the road lines are…

4. No traffic diversion devices…

So, this is a real call with a local fire department…

Is this your department?

The Skinny on the “Ambrose-Searles move over act”

Is a “two-part” lawPart 1: Educational Component (9/1/05):“…FOR EXERCISING DUE CARE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH A PARKED, STOPPED OR STANDING AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE PURSUANT TO SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR-A OF THIS CHAPTER.”Part 2: Enforcement Component (1/1/06):First Conviction: $250-$400 &/or 30 days in jail.Second Conviction: $600-$750 &/or up to 180 days in jail.Third Conviction: $750-$1,000 &/or 180 days.

**All fines are within a 3 year time frame!**

The Skinny on the “Ambrose-Searles move over act”

Basically, this law can only be implemented once a collision has occurred!

Other states have a more aggressive “Move Over Law(s).

Two Charlotte firefighters were injured after a woman hit them with her car outside a business on University City Boulevard Thursday afternoon. The accident happened in front of the CVS drug store located at 10219 Highway 49. Firefighters had just cleared another emergency call and stopped by the shopping center for lunch. While walking into a nearby business, a fire captain noticed a woman was illegally parked in the fire lane. When he approached her, she backed up her car, hitting a firefighter. Then, she drove forward, striking the fire captain.

9/2/2005 Courtesy www.firehouse.com


Is this considered insufficient distance?

Roadside Emergencies Hazards4) Rogue events that can be

hazardous…A. Oncoming vehicle that’s

operator is ability impaired or just not paying attention (a.k.a.: HUA syndrome)

B. Responders running away from a scene due to an unexpected or unsafe situation.

C. Oncoming vehicles that loose control.

D. And one that I believe in: BAD LUCK…

Another Story From the HeadlinesPolice officer struck by car

By WILL DAVID THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: February 2, 2005)

A 47-year-old off-duty city police officer was hit yesterday morning by a car driven by another off-duty officer as he walked across the street to the Fourth Precinct on Shonnard Place, police said.

Police Officer Paul Wood, who is a foot patrol officer in Getty Square, was listed in stable condition at an area hospital yesterday, Lt. Maureen Zadorozny said. He suffered leg and head injuries, she said.

The driver, Officer Christopher Coyne, 36, was traveling west on Shonnard Place at 7:39 a.m. in a 2002 Nissan Sentra when he was blinded by the sun and did not see Wood crossing the street, police said.

"It's an accident," said Zadorozny. No charges will be filed against Coyne, she said

Courtesy of www.respondersafety.com 2/2/05

Break Time

Take 10 minutes…Think about what you’ve seen so far…10 minutes9 minutes8 minutes

7 minutes6 minutes5 minutes

4 minutes3 minutes2 minutes

1 minute

Roadside Emergencies

Ideas for Safety on the Roadside

Ideas for Emergency Responders Don’t get complacent…Feeling safe will eventually kill you. Ensure that ALL personnel are wearing a reflective traffic vest or other

clothing. STANDARD TURNOUT GEAR IS GENERALLY INSUFFICIENT!!! NIOSH recommends a strong yellow-greenyellow-green or orange orange color.

All emergency personnel who are outside of a vehicle should meet, at a minimum, the ANSI Class 2 standard. ANSI Class 3 is highly recommended.

Use road flares to your advantage – You can not use too many road flares! Shut down the lane of traffic next to where you are working. An example: If

you are working an incident on the Northway median, then shut down the passing lane.

Ideas for Emergency Responders(con’t) Dedicate a “Safety Officer” to watch oncoming traffic and other

hazards. This is, of course, is on a case by case basis… Never turn your back to traffic… Turn OFF white lights while on scene. Remember, if you blind an

oncoming vehicle, they can’t see you to avoid you. This includes headlights, headlight flashers and white strobes.

Use lighted arrow sticks to your advantage….Consider the oncoming driver confused and dumb; In need of direction.

Why we don’t turn our backs to traffic…

ANSI Safety Vest Class I

“Class 1 garments are for users who have ample separation from vehicular traffic that does not exceed 25 mph and where the background is not complex. Parking service attendants, workers in warehouses with equipment traffic, shopping cart retrievers, sidewalk maintenance workers, and delivery vehicle drivers would wear this class of garment.”

ANSI Safety Vest Class II

“Class 2 garments are intended for users who need greater visibility in inclement weather conditions and whose activities occur near roadways where traffic speeds exceed 25 mph. Workers who would wear this class of garment include railway workers, school crossing guards, parking and toll gate personnel, airport ground crews and law enforcement personnel directing traffic.”

Class II safety equipment – approximately 120 feet

ANSI Safety Vest Class III

“Class 3 garments provide the highest level of conspicuity to workers with high task loads in a wide range of weather conditions where traffic exceeds 50 mph. The standard recommends these garments for all roadway construction personnel and vehicle operators, utility workers, survey crews, emergency responders, railway workers and accident site investigators.”

Class III safety equipment – approximately 120 feet

Summing it all up…Visually…

So, now that you’ve seen each vest individually, let’s see what passing cars are seeing…

And missing…

Here’s what a passing car will and won’t see…

Street Clothes Class II Class III

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Under “Worker Safety Considerations,” the MUTCD states:

Worker Safety Apparel—all workers exposed to the risks of moving roadway traffic or construction equipment should wear high-visibility safety apparel meeting the requirements of ISEA “American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel” … or equivalent revisions, and labeled as ANSI 107-1999 standard performance for Class 1, 2, or 3 risk exposure. A competent person designated by the employer to be responsible for the worker safety plan within the activity area of the job site should make the selection of the appropriate class of garment.

American Traffic Safety Services Association (1988)

Hmmm…Is this someone you know?

A perfect scene…

Does it exists?

A Perfect Scene…Does It Exist?

The definition of a perfect scene is:“A scene in which there is no hazard to any responding personnel, including traffic, wires, fluids and bystanders. Although this type of situation is optimal, it is not reality…”

This is what I call the “Boy in the Bubble” theory….

A Perfect Scene…Does It Exist?

Since we can not have a “Perfect Scene”, we should strive for a “Safe Scene”…Does everyone remember this from EMT class????

The definition of a Safe Scene:“A scene in which the threat of danger is not eradicated, but accepted as being present and reasonable measures for personnel safety is taken.”

Is this the future of EMS safety?

The Scene…

Scene Operations & Safety

Scene Operations All Emergency Vehicles at least 50 to 60 feet from incident. Road flares or other visual warning creating a “visual” barrier around

the scene. Position vehicles between a 15 to 30 degree slant TOWARDS traffic…

This will give the appearance to approach traffic that you are pulling into traffic – Drivers will tend to slow down and yield the way…

Also, positioning your vehicle this way will divert vehicles away from you in an impact…

Also positioning vehicles in this manner will divert the energy during an impact into the roadway, not into responders!

Use apparatus to your advantage – Make a barrier between passing vehicle and the scene.

Turn off white and/or blinding lights – Remember, less is more!


“Fire investigators said the fire engine was called out to block crews working at an accident scene for safety purposes. The fire department has been doing it for about a year. Authorities said the crash could have been much worse, had the fire truck not been there.”

6/13/04 Courtesy NBC5 Dallas, TX

This is a great example of how NOT to place your vehicle on a roadside scene…

50 – 60 feet

Safe Area

incident

Scene Operations Pattern of portable warning devices should slope away from incident,

responders & vehicles. Addition of adding a “cross flare pattern” to visual barrier – this

provides better distance visibility to the already “visually appealing” scene.

This creates a “visual” barrier around the incident and emergency vehicles.

Assign at least ONE person to flare maintenance and approaching vehicle safety. This is on a case by case basis…

Responders should NEVER cross the “visual” barrier unless a DIRE EMERGENCY!

Road flares should extend 350 feet on high speed road ways, and 100 feet on low speed roadways (low speed is less than 30 MPH).

Establish a “safe area” for responders to seek refuge in an emergency. Typically towards the shoulder of the road. This SHOULD NOT BE THE STAGING AREA!!!!

Scene Operations

350 feet

Incident

3 Lane, High Speed Roadway

Safe Zone

Flow of Traffic

NIOSH recommends…

Roadside Safety

Things to remember

Things to remember• The most important person on a roadside incident is YOU, the

provider.• Always be aware of your surroundings and situations…A roadside

incident regardless of type is a FLUID EVENT…• A FLUID EVENT means it can shift in ANY direction immediately. In

other words, you can go from a “routine call” to “out-of-control” in a matter of seconds…

This is a great example of a “Fluid Event”…

Things to Remember

Traffic!!! Fluid – This includes vehicle

fluids, Bodily fluids, and Natural fluids (i.e.: rain, snow, ice, etc)

Wires that have been compromised

Arriving emergency vehicles

The Media – Don’t hesitate to have them move to another area…

Family members of patient(s) - Don’t hesitate to have them move to another area…

The car itself!

Some things to watch out for during a roadside incident:

Just when you least expect it…

Roadside Incident Safety

Ideas for Management

Quote for Management

“The most important asset is our people. All the machines, tools and equipment can not replace the man.”

-Admiral YashamaJapanese Imperial Navy

1943

When someone gets hit, who do you report to?

Minor Injury Report to BEMS (?) Self Insurance

Investigation

Serious Injury / Fatality Report to BEMS Self Insurance

Investigation OSHA / PESH

Investigation NIOSH “FACE”

investigation

(Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation)

Paperwork that needs to be filled out…

Employee Injury Form C-2 Volunteer Ambulance Worker Injury VAW-2 Employee Death Form C-62 Volunteer Ambulance Worker Death Form

VAW-62 Volunteer Ambulance Worker Claim for

Benefits VAW-3 Self Insurance Investigation Agency Self Investigation

Ideas for Management before personnel get struck Educate personnel about the hazards on

roadside incidents. Develop, implement & enforce a SOP for

roadside incidents. Provide safety equipment for personnel – i.e.:

Safety vests, turnout gear, etc. Be specific when writing policy…

Remember, if you didn’t write it, it didn’t happen!!!

What we’d all like to say…

Roadside Incident Safety

The Standard Operating Guideline (SOG)

Roadside Incident Safety SOG

PurposeIt is the continued resolve to provide all personnel with adequate protection and visibility while operating an all roadside incidents. This Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) will replace the previous guidelines pertaining to roadside safety.

RationaleIt can be expected that personnel will be involved with patient care in and on the side of roadways, some of which are designated for multiple lane, high-speed traffic. The biggest problem with scene safety at any roadside incident is providers being seen by approaching motorists. This problem is compounded by darkness, low-light and/or poor visibility situations.

Roadside Incident Safety SOGSOGAll personnel, including observers and interns, will conform to the following policies:

• Motor Vehicle Collisions / Accident – Mandatory use of turn-out gear. It is HIGHLY recommended that an ANSI Classified safety vest be worn over the turn-out gear, but is not mandatory. Each Wilton Emergency, Inc vehicle will have a sufficient number of ANSI standard 107-1999 Class III safety vests for the crew.

• All other Roadside Incidents – Mandatory use of at least ANSI standard 107-1999 Class II safety vest. Turn-out gear (pants and coat) may be worn, but a safety vest must be worn on the outer most layer. Each Wilton Emergency, Inc vehicle will have a sufficient number of ANSI Class III safety vests for the crew.

All safety vests must be returned upon completion of the incident, unless cleaning

or decontamination is needed.

Roadside Incident Safety SOG

Equipment Placement• All vehicles parked at road-side incidents need to have emergency lights activated,

excluding white or blinding lights (headlight flashers, white strobes, etc).

• All vehicles parked at road-side incidents should be parked approximately between 15 and 30 degrees towards traffic, with front wheels turned into passing traffic.

• Portable warning devices should be used on every roadside incident (flares, triangle, etc). This is at the discretion of the EMS incident commander. Portable warning devices should extend 350 feet before the incident on high speed roads and 100 feet on low speed roads.

Roadside Incident Safety SOGAny personnel who are not wearing appropriate safety devices (intentional or accidental), will consider the scene to NOT BE SAFE, and thus, will not leave the confines of the EAS vehicle. A line officer must be notified immediately. Each incidence will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Repetitious offenses can lead to written warnings, suspension and/or termination of affiliation with Wilton Emergency, Inc.

Although this sounds mean, cruel or rude, this extreme must be achieved to ensure crew and scene safety…

Roadside Safety

Parting Thoughts...

Awareness is good, awareness is wise…

Parting Thoughts… If they can’t see you, then they can’t avoid you… If you don’t tell them were to go and how to do it, they won’t

know how to get there and when to do it… Complacency kills… Avoid using crisis management to solve a situation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… The only bad accident is the preventable one… Remember, it doesn’t take a police officer to shut down a road,

just a big, red truck in the way...

Drunk driver strikes ambulance at scene– FDNY EMT killed…

In memoriam to Andre Lehans, EMT FNDY

Parting Quote of the Day…

“Disorder is born from order...The line between disorder and order lies in logistics.”

-SunTzu

Incident Roadside SafetyResources for this original program: National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) NYS Bureau of EMS “Unsafe Saviors”, Detroit Times 2004 www.respondersafety.com National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) Wilton EMS, Inc. Wilton Fire Department Maple Avenue Fire Department American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Public Employees Health and Safety (PESH) NYS Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) eBaum’s World Media – www.ebaumsworld.com www.warfalcons.com

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