Numerous times a year, Firefighters, EMT’s, and Paramedics are injured or killed on the roadway while on the scene of an emergency, whether it be a car accident, or an unknown medical emergency. Most of this is caused by drivers who are not paying attention to the road, but rather to the emergency scene instead. This causes further accidents, and injures emergency personnel on the scene who are no longer able to assist on the scene. Many precautions are in place that prevent such accidents yet they still happen, things like brightly colored apparatus, bright flashing lights, and people out in front directing traffic all help to reduce the likelihood of a first responder being injured on the accident scene, yet it still happens. An overarching solution that could save lives is the use of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to position the apparatus into a blocking position, that puts the unit directly in between the oncoming traffic and first responders that are working, as well as taking individuals out from in front of the apparatus. A solution is needed to increase the use of SOPs within fire departments, as well as take people that are in front of the apparatus out of harm’s way.
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“A 2001 NIOSH report indicated 26 firefighters struck and killed between 1990 and 1999 which at that time represented an 89% increase in those types of fatalities from 1995 to 2000. An NFPA report indicated that 36 firefighters were struck and killed by vehicles from 1989 to 1998. (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-143/). The NFPA annual Firefighter Fatality Reports also indicate that there were 3 firefighters struck and killed by vehicles in 2005; 3 similar firefighter fatalities in 2006; 1 firefighter fatality in 2007; 4 firefighter fatalities in 2008; and 4 firefighters killed in 2009 when struck by vehicles.” - Sullivan, J
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