As in many jurisdictions throughout the country, firefighters in a Kentucky town are visiting schools to deliver an important message.
What makes the effort different for the Bowling Green Fire Department is that their target audience is new drivers, and officials believe their subject matter is just as vital as fire prevention.
They're telling the youths what to do if they encounter an emergency vehicle while driving.
The program came about following a crash between a fire engine and a vehicle. "The jury foreman (at the trial) asked if the fire truck had the right to go through a red light," recalled Chief Gerry Brown, the driver of the apparatus involved. "It dawned on us that people really didn't know what to do when they saw us coming."
To illustrate what they're confronted with on a daily basis, video recorders were installed on the dashboards of the fire vehicles. "That gives people a good look at what we're facing while we're trying to get somewhere. People stop right in front of us sometimes. We've seen some quite interesting maneuvers."
Firefighters have been attending every drivers' education class in four high schools since 1990, and Brown estimates they've reached at least 10,000 young drivers.
The chief said he believes the program has been successful. There's been only one crash since the education classes started. "We think it's been very effective."
He said a number of departments from across the country have asked them to share lesson plans. "The cost is minimal. We have handouts, and we've changed them as Kentucky revised the laws."
Fire officials attending a recent safety seminar in Florida stressed the need for educating the public to prevent firefighter injuries and deaths. While discussing the placement of apparatus along a highway and the need for lighting the scene, their conversation turned to whether motorists really know what to do when they're faced with an emergency vehicle.
"There have been 38 people struck by vehicles so far this year. That number includes firefighters, EMS and police officers," said Steve Austin, project coordinator of Emergency Responder Safety Institute. "And, those are only the ones we know about."
Two police officers and a firefighter have died this year after being struck along the highway while performing their jobs. Austin said the numbers are staggering, and people need to stay ahead of the game to stay safe.
Public education is one of 16 Life Safety Initiatives compiled by the National Fallen Firefighters' Foundation. Officials say they're hoping by explaining the duties of emergency responders, people will be more aware when they encounter them on the highway.
