WASHINGTON, D.C. -- One man wears a white helmet, the other, blue and gold.
Their professions couldn't be farther apart. However, they've teamed up for a cause, one both hope will save the lives of firefighters across the country.
U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade and St. Louis Rams' Quarterback Marc Bulger tout the importance of buckling up in a public service announcement created by Firehouse.com and Cygnus Business Media.
A busy fire station in Washington provided the perfect backdrop for the filming of the first of several planned PSAs.
The two said buckling up should be a no-brainer for responders. Bulger said it should be as natural as a football player strapping on his helmet as he takes the field.
Cade said firefighters should be outraged at the number of their brothers and sisters killed or injured in crashes because they weren't wearing their seat belts.
"Wearing a seat belt is basic safety," Cade said. "The firefighting profession is dangerous enough. There are any number of things you have to deal with on a daily basis."
Cade called the crash statistics numbing. In the past few years, more than a dozen line-of-duty deaths occurred when firefighters were ejected when their rigs wrecked.
The nation's fire chief also encourages personnel to sign the seat belt pledge. "It's voluntary. But, it shows a commitment that the person recognizes the importance of safety."
He also said personnel who aren't buckled also are in violation of state laws. Every state has a seat belt law, and Cade said he wasn't familiar with any that exempt firefighters.
Bulger said he was honored to be asked to be part of the promotion. "I have a foundation that honors men and women in uniform. This fits right in with what I do."
The NFL quarterback said he's always admired the bravery displayed by first responders. "I see their failure to wear a seat belt as foolish. They are doing a job that has life and death consequences. They, better than anyone, should know."
Bulger said he hopes firefighters get the message, buckle up every time.
RESQTEC President Bill Latta, whose company underwrote the production of the PSA, said: "Any initiative to save a firefighter's life is worth the investment we think."
Latta said the use of seat belts has always been an issue of importance for RESQTEC.
Firehouse.com invites everyone to use these important PSAs to help stress the importance of wearing a seat belt while responding to and coming back from alarms. Add these videos to your blog, department website, MySpace/Facebook profile to help spread the word. To get the code to embed these videos on your site, please click here
Related Videos:
- 60 Second Seat belt PSA
- 45 Second Seat belt PSA
- 30 Second Seat belt PSA
- Seatbelt Pledge Interview with USFA Administrator Greg Cade
- Seat Belt Pledge Interview with DC Fire Chief Dennis Rubin
- Seat Belt Pledge Interview with Montgomery County, MD Fire Chief Tom Carr
- Seat Belt Pledge Interview with Hampton. VA Deputy Chief George Morgan
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