“I pledge to wear my seat belt whenever I am riding in a Fire Department vehicle. I further pledge to insure that all my brother and sister firefighters riding with me wear their seat belts. I am making this pledge willingly; to honor Brian Hunton my brother firefighter because wearing seat belts is the right thing to do.”
While is more than just seat belts, the seat belt pledge is still an important first step towards creating a culture of safety. With that in mind, here is how to take that all important first step.
- Download the International First Responder Seatbelt Pledge Form from the NFFF website
- Sign the Pledge and Buckle Up!
- Fax to (410) 721-6213or E-mail seatbelts@EveryoneGoesHome.com.
- Items to include in the email are: Department Name; Town; State; Contact Person, with email address and phone number. **Remember to scan and attach your pledge sheets.**
- Please copy the Task Force, rwebster@wfrd.org, on the email.
- Make sure it is legitimately for patient care – is it truly life-saving measures or convenience?
- Is it feasible to stop the ambulance – remember, when you unbuckle, you become a projectile and could be what injures the patient or become injured yourself.
- Are there other solutions – tether systems for providers that can be installed?
- And a reminder – first we do no harm, we have an obligation to ensure scene safety for us and patients; if we are not buckled, we are not safe!
In February 2010, firefighters from across Oklahoma participated in a seat belt study in which they were asked about their use of seat belts while they were on duty.
Survey Findings and Results:
The survey drew 588 responses, representing a 24.3 percent response rate, with 96.3 percent successfully completing the survey. A quantitative analysis of seat belt use among Oklahoma firefighters was electronically distributed to 2,419 firefighters in 17 Oklahoma fire departments, which included municipal, rural, career, volunteer, and combination federal/military, tribal, and contract organizations.
Of the respondents, 93.1 percent (524) were male, and 6.9 percent (39) were female. The most common age (mode) was split between 38 and 46. Almost half (49.9 percent) (281) of the respondents reported having 15+ years experience, and 18.3 percent (103) reported having 0 to 5 years. The majority (83.4 percent) (471) were from paid/career departments; 6.4 percent (36) were from federal/military departments.
The positive key findings of the survey were the following: (1) Nearly all fire apparatus in Oklahoma are equipped with seat belts, and (2) During routine driving and emergencies (except fires), the majority of firefighters wear their seat belts.
The following were among the additional findings of the survey:
- 45.5 percent (261) of the firefighters always wear their seat belt; 38.7 percent (222) sometimes do.
- 60.6 percent (352) feel their peers sometimes wear their seat belt; 19.3 percent (112) feel they rarely wear them.
- During medical emergencies, 43.5 percent (246) wear their seat belt 100 percent of the time.
- During vehicle emergencies, 38.8 percent (219) wear their seat belt 100 percent of the time.
- During fire emergencies, 40.2 percent (228) wear their seat belt 0 to 25 percent of the time.
- During routine driving, 53.0 percent (303) wear their seat belt 100 percent of the time.
- 72.2 percent (419) said the duration of a trip does not impact their seat belt use.
- 55.9 percent (320) reported being in zero accidents while on duty; 41.8 percent (239) reported being involved in one to three accidents while on duty.
- 60.6 percent (341) said seat belt use within their fire department is recommended; 30.0 percent (169) reported that they automatically use their seat belt.
- 40.6 percent (230) are sometimes encouraged by their peers to wear a seat belt.
- 94.0 percent (530) reported all of their fire department vehicles were equipped with seat belts.
- 48.5 percent (271) reported they had not received seat belt training from their fire department.
Congratulations to the following EXEMPLARY Fire Departments for 100% compliance to the seat belt pledge. Your Departments serve as an example to the Fire Service. Now go pass this along to your neighboring Departments!!
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Huntley Fire Protection District Huntley, IL Captain Ken Caudle
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City of Havana Fire Department Havana, IL Chief John Kachanuk |
Lincolnwood Fire Department Lincolnwood IL Fire Chief Mike Hansen |
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Palatine Rural Fire Prot. District Inverness, IL Batt Chief Jeff Dill
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Naval Station Great Lakes F.D. Great Lakes, IL Asst. Chief Gelacio Rodriguez |
Hillside Fire Department Hillside, IL Chief Michael Kuryla |
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Stone Park Fire Dept. Stone Park, IL Lt. Michael Paige
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Monmouth Fire Department Monmouth, IL Fire Chief Jim Conard |
Algonquin LITH Fire Algonquin, IL Fire Chief Steve Guestchow |
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Effingham Fire Department Effingham, IL Chief Joseph Holomy
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Lake Forrest Fire Department Lake Forrest, IL Lt. Pete Siebert |
Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Lake Zurich, IL Training Officer Robert Bachler |
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Stickney Fire Department Stickney, IL Chief Larry Meyer
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Itasca Fire Protection Dist. Itasca, IL Assistant Chief John Radzinski |
Citgo/Lemont Refinery Fire Department Lemont, IL Fire Chief Jim Novotny |
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Batavia Fire Department Batavia, IL Lt. Jami White
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Countryside Fire Protection District Vernon Hills, IL Chief Jeff Steingart |
Peru Fire Department Peru, IL Safety Officer Patrick Riordan |
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Midlothian Fire Department Midlothian, IL Chief William J. Sheehy
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Richmond Township Fire Prot. Dist. Richmond, IL Asst. Chief Douglas Halverson
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Park Ridge Fire Department Park Ridge, IL Capt. Scott Sankey |
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Buffalo Grove Fire Department Buffalo Grove, IL Battalion Chief Gary L Belfiel
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Glenside Fire Protection District Glendale Heights, IL Deputy Chief James L Larsen
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Lombard Fire Department Lombard, IL Battalion Chief Charles Ralis |
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Mundelein Fire Department Mundelein, IL Chief T.E. Sashko
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Rockford Fire Department Rockford, IL Chief Derek Bergsten
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Charelston Fire Department Charleston, IL Chief Kris A. Phipps |
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Rockford Fire Department Rockford, IL Chief Derek Bergsten
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Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District Champaign, IL Chief Mike Kobel
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Mattoon Fire Department Mattoon, IL Asst. Chief Andy Adair |
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Byron Fire Byron, IL Chris Millard
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McHenry Township Fire Prot. Dist. McHenry, IL Chief Wayne Amore
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Amboy Fire Department Amboy, IL Chief Frank Stenzel |
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Harvard Fire Protection Dist. Harvard, IL Deputy Chief Alan R Styles
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Altamont FPD Altamont, IL Chief Jon Becker
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Brownstown FPD Brownstown, IL Chief Phillip Wells |
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Crooked Creek FPD Hidalto, IL Chief Bret Bierman
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Dieterich FPD Dieterich, IL Chief Mark Webb
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Edgewood Bi-CountyFPD Edgewood, IL Chief Todd Yocum |
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Farina FPD Farina, IL Chief Jim Guerrettaz
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Jasper County EMS Newton, IL Chief David Stankus
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MontroseFPD Montrose, IL Chief Chris Overbeck |
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Harlem- Roscoe Fire Department Roscoe, IL
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Noble/Wakefield FPD Newton, IL Chief Kelly Geier
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Olney Fire Dept. Olney, IL Chief Norm Bissey |
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Ramsey FPD Ramsey, IL Chief Ronnie Stevens
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Shumway FPD Effingham, IL Chief Ken Schwerman
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Effingham County EMS Altamont, IL Chief Terry White |
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St. ElmoFPD St. Elmo, IL Chief Doug Engeljohn
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St. Peter FPD St. Peter, IL Chief Kevin Jenne
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Stewardson FPD Stewardson, IL Chief Robert Prosser |
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Teutopolis FPD Teutopolis, IL Chief Tim McMahon
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Vandalia Fire Dept. Vandalia, IL Chief Merle Adermann
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Wade FPD Newton, IL Chief Raymond Reynolds |
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Watson FPD Watson, IL Chief Matt Kulesza
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Carbondale Township Fire Dept. Carbondale, IL Chief Michael Bilderback
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Huey Ferrin Boulder FPD Huey, IL Asst. Chief Mike Hohmeyer |
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Cary FPD Cary, IL Chief Jeff Macko
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Tri-County FPD Beecher City, IL Chief Doug Ray
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Bartlett FPD Bartlett, IL Chief Mike Falese |
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Lisle-Woodridge Fire District Lisle, IL Chief Thomas Freeman
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St. Louis Downtown Airport F.D. Sauget, IL Chief Michael J. Mavrogeorge
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Washington County Ambulance Nashville, IL Administrator John Falchlia |
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Centralia Fire Protection District Centralia , IL Captain Ross Bashera
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Bolingbrook Fire Department Bolingbrook , IL FF Chris Jostes
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Champaign Fire Department Champaign , IL Deputy Chief Stephen Clarkson |
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Paris Fire Department Paris , IL Chief Brian Gates
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Edwardsville Fire Department Edwardsville,IL Chief J. Brian Wilson, Sr.
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Fox River Grove FPD Fox River Grove, IL Deputy Chief Jim Kreher |
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Hanover Park Fire Department Hanover Park, IL
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Crete Fire Department Crete, IL
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Riverside Fire Department Riverside, IL Chief Kevin Mulligan |
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Dalzell Fire Department Dalzell, IL Asst. Chief Rich Croissant
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Centralia Fire Department Centralia , IL Chief Michael L. Kracht
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Willow Hill FD Willow Hill, IL
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Zion Fire and Rescue Department Zion, IL Fire Chief John Lewis
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West Dundee Fire Department West Dundee, IL Fire Chief Franklin J. Buhrmann
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Winthrop Harbor Fire Department
Winthrop Harbor, IL Fire Chief Ronald C. Levin |
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Bedford Park Fire Department Bedford, IL Chief Sean M. Maloy
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Lake Bluff Fire Department Lake Bluff, IL Chief David Graf
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Irvington Fire Protection Dist. Irvington, IL Asst. Chief Kevin Howe |
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Sandoval Fire Protection Dist. Sandoval, IL Asst. Chief Chad Parson
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Schiller Park Fire Department Schiller Park, IL Fire Director Thomas F. Deegan
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Marissa Fire Department Marissa, IL Dick Smith |
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Santa Fe Fire District Bartelso, IL Chuck Gebke
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Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Woodstock, IL Chief Ralph Webster
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Manteno Community FPD Manteno, IL Chief Scott O’Brien |
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Wheatfield Fire District Carlyle, IL Chief Don Beckemeyer
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Manhattan Fire Department Manhattan, IL Chief Daniel Forsythe
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Bloomingdale Fire Prot. Dist. #1 Bloomingdale, IL Deputy Chief Michael McNamara |
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Manhattan Fire Prot. Dist. Manhattan, IL Chief Daniel Forsythe
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Collinsville Fire Department Collinsville, IL Chief Peter Stehman
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Bensenville Fire Prot Dist. Bensenville, IL Director Brenda Del Valle
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Tri-State Fire Prot. Dist. Darien, IL Chief Michelle A. Gibson
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Grayslake Fire Prot. Dist. Grayslake, IL Batt. Chief Jon Cokefair
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Carpentersville Fire Dept. Carpentersville, IL Chief John Schuldt
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Westmont Fire Department Westmont, IL Chief Frank Trout
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Roselle Fire Department Roselle, IL Training Officer Tom Wazak
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O’Fallon Fire Department O’Fallon, IL Frank Shewmaker
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Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Dept Crystal Lake, IL Fire Chief Jim Moore
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Tri-Township FPD Quincy, IL Chief Rick Zaerr
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Sycamore Fire Department Sycamore, IL Asst. Chief Marc Doty
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Troy Fire Protection District Shorewood, IL Lt. John Brobst
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Village of Western Springs Western Springs, IL Deputy Chief of Fire and EMS Gary Mayor |
Hinsdale Fire Department Hinsdale, IL Fire Chief Mike Kelly |
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Wonder Lake FPD Wonder Lake, IL Assistant Chief Mike Weber |
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