In the USA more than a million firefighters endanger their lives in a bid to rescue people and put out fires from burning houses and other risky situations. In average over 80 firefighters die while in the line of job every year. The rate of grave workplace injuries for firefighters was over 15 percent of 100000 employed, and that accounts almost four times for all employees. Firefighters depend on their gear and equipment to assist in protecting from being killed or injured in rollover incidents, excessive chemical and thermal exposures and crashes. They may benefit through ergonomically designed apparatus of fire to improve safe operation and decrease other risks, for example, falls from fire vehicles. Nevertheless, poor fitting of individual protective equipment, fire apparatus, and gear may compromise safety and performance. For instance, when seat belts may not be buckled through firefighters wearing gear, firefighters cannot be protected with the lifesaving device.
In the case of a crash that occurred on July 2010, where engine rolled over, and all victims were ejected. They all died in the crash as victim1 was taken to local hospital where he was pronounced dead, and victim2 firefighter died at the incident scene. Not all victims put on their seat belts. In addition to these, there are various factors contributing to such deaths of firefighters and accidents (Paul, Elder, & Amp, 2012). These include failure of motorist to provide right way for an incoming emergency engine with visual and audible signal in application, appliance of older apparatus with insufficient safety features, poor intersection management of emergency device vehicle plus traffic light and failure to make sure that all incoming engine had provided a right way prior to advancing through the junction. The fire department consists of victims’ department that serves a large population with few workers whereas they cover a wide area for emergency incidents (Paul, Elder, & Amp, 2012). This department does not offer emergency services of medical. All their apparatus and equipment are maintained through the Department and serviced twice a month for safety operating conditions.
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They also send these apparatus and equipment to the truck facility maintenance in annual inspections of safety and changing of oil. The department provides written procedures and policies that are accessible to all members of the department in their stations. Procedures and policies for emergency engine operators, the structure of incident command and turnout gear and SCBA application are in place. Experience and training in fire department accord that members need to achieve a minimal level of training comprising of Fire Fighter 1 in one year for membership (Paul, Elder, & Amp, 2012). Operator divers should have a minimal of one-year experience having accomplished Fire Fighter 1 plus EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operators Course) and passing a road test controlled by the chief of the department. After having an overview on victims involved in incident training records, they deemed to have attained criteria of NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standard for qualifications IN Fire Fighter profession that requires one to complete Fighter 1 and Fighter 2 courses.
The department of fire that was engaged with the case only provided an oral policy, which needed the firefighters just to apply safety belts despite of not offering a documented policy that demanded everyone to use the belts (Petersen et al., 2010). This is due to both of the victims did not put on seat belts now of the incident. Medical examiner discovered fatal injuries in all victims resulted from ejection thus it is uncertain whether either of men controlled with seat belts could have survived; they could have gotten a chance to survive. Therefore, fire department should create, train upon and be strict in enforcing SOPs on the application of seat belts (Petersen et al., 2010). The SOPs must apply to everyone riding in or driving all emergency engines, and they must state that both people must be secured and seated in a riding position that is approved before vehicle start moving. Training on SOPs must be reinforced the requirement of firefighters and drivers to identify when they have an increased adrenalin response can cause them to accidentally omit a significant safety step like the application of seat belts. Seat belts are not only useful in protecting persons in occasion of the crash but also they help in avoiding crashes. This is because some of the crashes are deemed to occur after the driver bounced out of his effective position of driving in case of contact with a bump in a road or some other object.
Recommendations
Municipalities, states and authorities with jurisdiction must take measures to ensure motorists understand aware for, follow traffic laws/codes regarding the right of way to an incoming emergency vehicle that employs visual and audible signals. The fire department must take into account rollover protection on their crew areas in fire apparatus during purchasing or upgrade new aircraft. In addition, fire departments must ensure written SOPs concerning seat belt appliance are made and enforced.
An incident of the death of a firefighter in the line of duty may be reduced through adherence and observation of set code of standards in this sector. This should be applied to all regardless of position or experience in the field. If all these can be enforced and uphold by them, then incident of death for firefighters could be reduced.
References
Paul, R., & Amp Elder, L. (2012). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life (3rd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Petersen, K., Witt, M., Morton, K., Olmsted, M., Amandus, H., Proudfoot, S., & Wassell, J. (2010). Firefighter fatality investigation and prevention program: Findings from a national evaluation. doi:10.3768/rtipress.2010.rr.0007.1003
