Seatbelts?

[Firemedic515]

Specifically on the firetruck while enroute to an emergency.

Just wondering how many of you guys wear seatbelts. Years ago, I rarely used it. Now that it's mandated by department policy, I wouldn't feel comfortable without it.

[VollyGuy]

It is part of our SOPs to always wear seatbelts. I mean which department would have anything else in their SOGs/SOPs? Now the question whether we do or not is a different question.

It is ultimately the driver's responsibility to make sure everyone is wearing their seatbelts. I am often a driver but I hate to admit I don't check everyone before I roll the truck to make sure they have put their seatbelts on. I know it's out there to bite me in the rear.

The problem we have is people putting on airpacks and gear while the truck is rolling to a scene and only buckling up afterward. We all know the right way but it's hard to stop a truck from going until everyone is buckled up with all the adrenaline pumping...

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[PineyPower]

Sadly, I (along with a lot of my area's firefighters) rarely wear a seatbelt while riding in a fire truck.

[SFD13]

Why would you not wear your seatbelt?

"An analysis conducted by the NFPA of 30 years of data showed that 406 firefighters who died on the road, 76 percent were known not to be restained. In other words, in North America, 10 to 12 firefighters, die each year on the job."

The above quote was from FIREFighting in Canada magazine November 2007 addition

Changed 301 to 30

[Dickey]

When I started, you were considered a moron if you put one on and everyone rolled their eyes. We used to stand up in the crew cab and face forward, that was just the way it was. Now, the truck doesn't roll unless everyone is seated and belted.

It's been a while since I rode an engine but when I respond in my vehicle I always wear it. Always wear it anyway regardless if I am going to a call or not. If you are caught not wearing it you could be subject to discipline by department policy. So far, hasn't went past a good *** chewin.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Those that refuse to wear seatbelts should google Newton's Laws of Motion....

Yes, I wear mine.. in my private vehicle as well as the Car.

[jmark1217]

Our dept sop requires it. Our newer apparatus have an alarm that if there is weight on the seat but no seatbelt it goes off and the driver and officer get ****y (it's worse than the knox box key alarm)

[JohnVBFD]

Why would you not wear your seatbelt?

"An analysis conducted by the NFPA of 301 years of data showed that 406 firefighters who died on the road, 76 percent were known not to be restained. In other words, in North America, 10 to 12 firefighters, die each year on the job."

The above quote was from FIREFighting in Canada magazine November 2007 addition

I do hope that is a massive typo.

Unless you are counting being thrown from a horse, which ironically enough naturally lack seat belts, it is empirically impossible to do 301 years of research on seat belts.

Having said that, it is the NFPA and I wouldn't put it past them.

[SFD13]

Yes it was a massive typo 30 not 301. Need to brush up on my typing skills, or the lack of.

[maxthis]

Our trucks won't pull out of the station unless everyone has on their seat belt. That's one of the responsibilities of the driver is to check with everyone before we even roll the truck.

[jonnyirons2]

I wish we had a rig you could actually put a seatbelt on and respond with. I put mine on for the first time ever about 3 weeks ago, but I was not wearing gear, was returning from a water call.

[hatchmaster]

I wish we had a rig you could actually put a seatbelt on and respond with. I put mine on for the first time ever about 3 weeks ago, but I was not wearing gear, was returning from a water call.

For anyone needing to either needing extensions or replacement including LARGE belts use www.gotbelts.com

Earlier this year I started refurburshing our reserve engine that we're purchasing and installed the belts to replace the old non-functioning belts. They worked great.

As for belts not only is it department policy, the vehicle will not move until the engineer and officer confirm that everyone is belted. We lost one of ours due to not wearing a belt.

There is absloutely NO EXCUSE for not wearing belts, ever.

Trust me, I used to not wear belts years ago and also got dressed while responding to calls, but that was when I was young and dumb.

[nmfire]

I don't drive off the apron until everyone is belted. I don't drive off the scene until everyone is belted. I've had one FF talk back to me about it and he was given the option of staying at the station or putting it on.

[BULL321]

I try to remember to wear mine, and for the most part I do. I say I wearing my seat belt at or around 95% of the time now. As time goes on, I'm wearing it more and more. Our Chief has been harping on this for the past year and half and for the most part all of the guys have fell in line. No stupid Pledges to sign, just adults acting like adults. Go figure.

Stay Safe
Bull

[superchef]

I try to remember to wear mine

"Do or do not.There is no "try"
Jedi Master Yoda





I believe the words we are looking for are "preventable deaths." I do not understand why you would not wear one.

[firenresq77]

Yes, I wear mine all the time.

I was called the "Seatbelt Nazi" the other day because I'm always making sure everyone is buckled up.....

[THEFIRENUT]

The big question is; "why would anyone NOT wear their seatbelt?? Anyone who responds to MVA's on a regular basis can tell you the percentage of survivors vs. non-survivors and the correlation with seatbelt usage. Stay safe out there.

[seagrave221]

seatbelts! why would they put them there if ther didnt want you to use them. it takes two seconds to buckle up but alot of times for me its more of a peer pressure, and i know it shouldnt be that way. most of the time it depends on wose in the back of the truck or even whar the call is and where and even the apparatus we take. our '91 "squrt" is a true champion but the rear door on one side commonly opens up RANDOMLY! luckily we have seatbelts and that is the truck that i can say i always where my seatbelt in. seatbelts are starting to gradually make there way onto firefighters, its all just a matter of time.

[pfd239]

The new "Black Boxes" being built into the rigs will record what seats are occupied and not belted. The liability on the drivers and officers are going to increase even more than it is now.

[JHR1985]

I put my pants on.... hop in... and get dressed en-route. Mostly, response times are within 3 minutes. If longer, I buckle up once I'm ready.

If we were to wait to get bunked out, either A: Beat in our own district or B: house would burn down due to construction and size.

Granted, EMS calls, hell yes buckle up. But on fire calls.... I get buckled up once I'm bunked out.