Refusal to utilize seatbelts

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeff Gaudio on September 24, 2009 at 11:54am

No they get jacked at me if I even bring it up about seatbelts. They won't even try to don an scba with a seatbelt on during a fire school. My hands are tied in this issue. I'm the only one who ever brought this topic up at my station and I'm the only one who uses a seatbelt. And if I refuse to move the apparatus until everybody's seatbelts are on, well I'd get suspended for disobeying an officer's orders to respond. It happened to me before.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by NativeAmerEMT on October 7, 2009 at 1:28pm

It's really too bad that your own men aren't more safety conscious...and would put you in such an awkward position... Why on earth won't they at least put the SCBA on after arrival? I guess the only way for them to learn is when they either end up in an accident or a fistful of traffic tickets for your dept to account for...

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Oldman on October 13, 2009 at 10:39am

I certainly understand your dilemma, and I would never advocate making waves, but.

Suspend me! Then we'll see who looks worse on the news. The one who is being safety conscious, or the officers who are making excuses and the department for allowing it.

Granted, it would be a last resort. But when provided with information on the proper way to don SCBA and wear a seatbelt, when provided with statistics, the media can be a very powerful friend.

But I would never make waves.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John West on October 8, 2009 at 1:12am

I am glad that you are working on making things safer for you and your coworkers. You are in somewhat of a dilemna though trying to make a cultural change within your agency.
Here is a link to an article that Dr. Burton Clark wrote on the very subject. http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/news/seatbeltpledge_021307.html

I would keep on your fellow officers and lead sby example. Here in Oergon it is a law that everyone wears a seatbelt and emergency vehicles are not exempt. As far as liability, you may be hung out to dry, not knowing what your laws are there. You may want to do a little research to help your cause.

Goodluck and I hope they come around so that they are not a statistic.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Oldman on October 9, 2009 at 9:26am

I don't know how much plainer it can be stated. Hang in there.

http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/News/Phoenix-FF-Didnt-Wear-Seat...

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Phil Cane on October 27, 2009 at 1:16am

This is an amazingly tough subject to address. When I started … (many years ago), our SCBAs were mounted outside the cab and we did not wear seatbelts … because we were saving time by getting in to our gear in route.

Then our new trucks had SCBAs inside and we still did not wear seatbelts for some of the same reasons you mentioned. One day our department had a crash involving an engine versus a car on the ice. The car had been in a crash with another vehicle but the incident was a mile closer to the station than reported. The engine rounded a corner and was right in the middle of the accident scene at response speed. The fact nobody was killed was incredibly lucky, nothing in the cab ended up where it was supposed to be … including the crew.

18 years later, when I am on a crew … no wheel turns without everyone wearing seatbelts. I am now a training officer, during drills I will stop the vehicles and check that the entire crew is belted, I expect it of everyone, as it is department policy, and it makes sense.

I do not want to be the one that has to tell the family of one of my crew that their loved one was killed and know they could have survived by wearing a seatbelt.

I have been an escort for the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend the last two years, while my families did not lose a loved one to a vehicle crash there were many there that did. The pain is incredible for them and it is so very unnecessary, it is one killer we can stop. WE ALL MUST DO IT … there is no acceptable excuse.

Keep on your crew ... your feelings are correct. They can only be mad at you if they are alive ... and you can deal with that!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeff Gaudio on October 27, 2009 at 11:08am

Thanks Phil.
It's impossible, really though. I'm just a captain with three chief officers above me. One captain above me and one below me. I'm the only one who ever stressed seatbelts in my department. I can preach the good book until my face turns red and everybody else's ears turn blue but it won't make any difference.

One of our officers said that if people say they're belted in and they're not, it's on them not me. Well I'm not sure that would hold in the courtroom and even if so, I don't want to live my life with that concenquence.

I enjoy driving but I'm close to telling them that I will no longer drive the equipment.


To everybody else here, I appreciate your responses and comments. I do appreciate it.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John J Finn on October 31, 2009 at 11:49am

As a Lt my engine does not move until everyone has their seatbelts on. The use of seatbelts in fire vehicles and private vehicles CAN reduce line of duty deaths by at least 20%. Such an easy fix.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on November 17, 2009 at 12:28pm

Problem 1 - people think that due to the size of the apparatus that they are invulnerable, they are in a tank and so do not need to wear a seatbelt. Right up until the time that another apparatus hits them and or they roll over.
Problem 2 - the need to be able to move around and gear up and pack up while responding.
Problem 3 - the need to be first ones there. if you are waiting for everyone to pack up and belt in before rolling out of the bay, another engine is going to beat you to the scene and get all the fun.
Problem 4 - seatbelts are for "cat-like" individuals, not macho firemen.
Solution 1 - everyone will be wearing their seatbelts to and from your LODD funeral.
Solution 2 - departmental mandate enforced by ALL officers.
Solution 3 - why would you NOT wear a life saving device on the way to a call in which you WILL be wearing life saving devices?

In my department the engine does not roll until all are belted in, we will even wait until everyone is packed up. With our Scott packs and the restraint system for them, they are strapped in with the shoulder belts free, you can get in the seat, put your arms through the straps, tighten them, put you waistbelt on and then belt in (the release pull is readily reachable). This CAN be done while moving and belted in as well. Of course, it takes practice (um...training, drill) and of course, no firefighter wastes his or her time practicing their trade, right?

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last