Seatbelts and FDNY

[CaptFantastic]

Does FDNY have a seatbelt policy? I was reading on firehouse.com one of the articles about the stand-down and there was something mentioned that one large US department feels that seatbelts will slow the FF's down too much and they have not made their use mandatory. I was wondering if the big cities like New York and Chicago and Boston have policy.

[fdsq10]

I did notice on one of the news channels from the building collapse and fire, it was either Engine 210 or 202 the operator had his seatbelt on. The news crew had the camera on the driver when they arrived. I'm sure someone from FDNY will answer your question. STAY SAFE

[E229Lt]

The FDNY policy for members riding in moving apparatus is "seated and belted".

[fieldseng2]

Our policy is the same as FDNY, "seated and belted at all times". In fact, it's announced over the radio/audible 4 times a day......

"The time is XXX hrs...attention all drivers of fire department vehicles....exercise caution when responding to all alarms..personnel riding fire department vehicles will use seatbelts at ALL times.....KAG632"


Now, does that happen at ALL times??? Well...thats another post entirely!

[nmfire]

That sounds like a walmart announcement! "Attention all associates. Please check your area for safety hazzards."

[ADSNWFLD]

Chicago does, at the am radio check they anounce it also, about every other day.
It still didn't stop one of the brothers from being ejected. Make it a priority by you, get the officers to buy in.

[HeavyRescueTech]

Does FDNY have a seatbelt policy? I was reading on firehouse.com one of the articles about the stand-down and there was something mentioned that one large US department feels that seatbelts will slow the FF's down too much and they have not made their use mandatory. I was wondering if the big cities like New York and Chicago and Boston have policy.

c'mon, lets be realistic. ALL fire departments either have written SOPs requiring the use the seatbelts, or don't have any mention of them in their written SOPs. I would be shocked to learn of ANY career fire department that has a written SOP saying that seatbelts are not required. and surprised to see any volunteer department that in writting would not require them.

and why you ask? if you are on the engine, and it crashes, and you get ejected, then the city can deny your claim for injuries, because you knowingly violated department policy, and had you been following department policy, you might not have suffered such an injury. if they don't require the use of seatbelts, then I can't even imagine how big of a check they would cut for an injured firefighter. it all comes down to lawsuits and liability.

btw, as with many things in the fire service, what the book and manual say, and what happens in real life and on the fire ground, can sometimes be totally different.

[fieldseng2]

That sounds like a walmart announcement! "Attention all associates. Please check your area for safety hazzards."

Everyone pays attention to it like one too!