Seatbelts...to wear...or not to wear...

[ENG27SQ]

Firehouse.com has the best source for these types of discussions.



Simple enough. Go home happy and alive or die.

[youknownothing]

I agree 100% that seatbelts should be worn on the apparatus. While I know it's often overlooked, i'd rather have my seatbelt on in the event of an accident. I feel safer knowing that i'm somewhat in place, rather than be thrown around the cab of the apparatus.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't wear it everytime and that's no excuse, but if you ask most of the guys at the station i'm usually the first one to put on my seatbelt. Our department has a policy, but is it enforced..........no, not really.

Nonetheless, everyone needs to think about themselves and their family when deciding if they do, or do not, buckle their seatbelt

[ENG27SQ]

youknownothing said:

I agree 100% that seatbelts should be worn on the apparatus. While I know it's often overlooked, i'd rather have my seatbelt on in the event of an accident. I feel safer knowing that i'm somewhat in place, rather than be thrown around the cab of the apparatus.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't wear it everytime and that's no excuse, but if you ask most of the guys at the station i'm usually the first one to put on my seatbelt. Our department has a policy, but is it enforced..........no, not really.

Nonetheless, everyone needs to think about themselves and their family when deciding if they do, or do not, buckle their seatbelt

Well said Mark. It is one of the first things I always do but there are those times where we say in our minds "Eh..." and the NTS starts. I know packing out then belting in can be a total b but hey, like you said. Id rather feel somewhat secure vs being thrown around in the cab.

Just add all the equipment that is stationary but when the cab rolls it comes flying around. I'm talking about helmets, masks, radios, and other loose things in a cab while en-route to a working fire.

[thelurker]

I wear mine every time, turnout gear or not. I almost hit a car the other day, and it kept me from losing control of the engine. Now if the LT's would just put them on....especially when you tell them to and they ignore you, or say just drive the effin truck, and then say they are afraid that the door is going to open and they will fall out....Hey stupids...wear your seatbelts!!!

[ENG27SQ]

thelurker said:

I wear mine every time, turnout gear or not. I almost hit a car the other day, and it kept me from losing control of the engine. Now if the LT's would just put them on....especially when you tell them to and they ignore you, or say just drive the effin truck, and then say they are afraid that the door is going to open and they will fall out....Hey stupids...wear your seatbelts!!!

Thats the biggest one. The People who ride the seat constantly don't give two craps! Drive the truck. Put your seatbelt on.

Just tell'em you aint driving til they belt in. Now its the officer of the truck delaying response, not you as the driver. No trucks brakes should be released til everyone is buckled in. Yes, I realize none of us want to delay our response but sometimes you gotta give that Officer of your unit that extra umph to get'em to do it.

[thelurker]

yea, try that out and let me know how it works. Remember, I have to 72 hours a week with these guys.

[ENG27SQ]

thelurker said:

yea, try that out and let me know how it works. Remember, I have to 72 hours a week with these guys.

When I start driving in 2010 Dean, I'll let ya know LOL!

But in all seriousness....clearly telling that officer "I'm not putting it in drive til you buckle up" is only either A)Gonna get'em to comply or B)Get your a$$ in hot water with someone.

Either way it's our own safety. I want to arrive alive, do the job, and go home alive to see my family and friends I thank ya much!

[thelurker]

B is the option I see happening since I walk that line pretty close most of the time anyway.

[ENG27SQ]

thelurker said:

B is the option I see happening since I walk that line pretty close most of the time anyway.

I hear ya. But in general. If they don't want to buckle up, no offense but that's their stupidity. Why would you want to jeopardize your life? Cause you don't want to put a stupid piece of fabric over your gut? Give me a damn break!

[papacheese]

Lurker....the guy is obviously in serious need of LEADERSHIP lessons and is most definitely not doing his job.

These kinds of situations REALLY irk the crap out of me... officers deliberately sidestepping or ignoring the rules are NOT officers - they're wannabes.....

Here's my question: if I can't trust you to do something as simple as putting on a seatbelt, then what does that tell me about your judgment skills and ability to keep the guys and girls safe?

Answer: a hellava lot....and none of it good.

Rumor has it we have a firefighter or two in our department who proudly and regularly exhibit their innane stupidity by pretending to buckle their belt, then take it off while making a face at the officer or D/O who reminded them to buckle up. Wow...what rebels!

I thought that puerile shit stopped when you graduated from high school...obviously not for some people.

[hp4l]

I may be on my own with this thinking but if someone doesn't want to wear a seatbelt then f*** 'em. I know the driver is responsible but some idiot in the back of the truck not wearing his/her seatbelt isn't going to crash the truck. If the truck does crash, they will just be the one with the more serious injuries. They had their chance. It's unfortunate that it falls back on the driver when we should all be grown men and women.

It's like that stupid "click it or ticket" scam that the police run. Not wearing a seatbelt only endangers the idiot that isn't wearing it, not the rest of the people on the road. Sorry if you disagree with that. Just my opinion.

[WebBoss]

hp4l said:

I may be on my own with this thinking but if someone doesn't want to wear a seatbelt then f*** 'em. I know the driver is responsible but some idiot in the back of the truck not wearing his/her seatbelt isn't going to crash the truck. If the truck does crash, they will just be the one with the more serious injuries. They had their chance. It's unfortunate that it falls back on the driver when we should all be grown men and women.

It's like that stupid "click it or ticket" scam that the police run. Not wearing a seatbelt only endangers the idiot that isn't wearing it, not the rest of the people on the road. Sorry if you disagree with that. Just my opinion.

Brother...

I absolutely see where your coming from, however, I must respectfully disagree.

If a serious accident were to occure, it's already going to be bad enough that we all have unsecured equipment in the cabs that's going to be flying around and bouncing off everyone. Now imagine an unsecured firefighter becomming a flying projectile inside the same cab.

In essence, what I'm saying is that when riding as the officer or driver, I want people to wear their belts. (period) Someone in the cab not wearing their seatbelt is just as much of a risk to me and the rest of the crew as it is to themselves.

[hp4l]

I can see where you are coming from and I agree with that. It's a damn shame that we have these stubborn people. I never thought of it how you put it but that is a great point. So how do we get these people to comply with the seatbelt laws?

[chief3102]

Im answer to your question of how do we get people to wear their seatbelts. I have attached an exerpt from Billy G on the Secret list. This was also posted by Opsoverkill on another thread...........

-----Make the "seat belt" policy very clear and train everyone on it. Clear written and objectively enforced policy w/no excuse training. Make it clear what the organizational consequences will be to the officer, the driver and the wearer(s) if they fail to wear seat belts: 1st offense suspension or termination. 2nd offense, termination ...and your and your family doesn't get your pension. The other consequences of being unbelted, apparatus or not, should be obvious. If not, show'm this reminder:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA0FRpbJt1s

--The officer must be reminded that an officer is a supervisor, not just the apparatus siren and air horn blower...we can teach a clown to do that, and have. Fire Officers supervise their members and they make sure the policies are clear and followed. Understand that if they aren't trained on and enforced by the officer, that the officer will be held accountable.

--The driver is responsible for the safety of their members. The driver can't be that if the firefighters are unsecured and go flying around in the back like donuts in the powdering machine.

--The firefighter(s) need to take personal responsibility. That doesn't mean if you don't personally like wearing seat belts, you don't have to...no one cares about what you think on this...it means that you understand that when you got the training, graduated probie school, received a badge, got your gear etc that you have figured out that you are responsible to more than just yourself...and that your bosses really don't care what you "think" about the "restrictive" seatbelt policy on the only $500,000+ vehicle you will ever get to ride on. If we cared, we would ask for a vote. No one asked for a vote. This is the non-democratic part. No rights.
No choice. No votes. Nothing but the sounds of clicking before "Speed Racer" up front, starts the rig.

As another reminder "why" ...look at "who is in your wallet" and then just put your @%#$*&! seat belt on and sign the pledge (link below) so you can get this issue off the table and start talking about something important.....such as the fact that engines or trucks with 1 person on board is an apparatus salesman, not a "staffed" company. www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp
Take Care-CHECK OUT "THE PLEDGE"
BillyG
The Secret List 1-29-08 / 0008 hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com


And then my man Papacheese wrote:

--The officer must be reminded that an officer is a supervisor, not just the apparatus siren and air horn blower...we can teach a clown to do that, and have. Fire Officers supervise their members and they make sure the policies are clear and followed. Understand that if they aren't trained on and enforced by the officer, that the officer will be held accountable.

This is probably too simplistic, but Chief Goldfeder has always said: "If you're an officer, ACT like one". Stop trying to win friends and influence people...forget about the next election and DO YOUR JOB.

Any questions???

[ENG27SQ]

Well I know some trucks like 23, have sensors in the seats. When they detect weight (enough to be a person not a set of bunker pants) in it and the truck is in drive the alarm will chirp as in (Hey Driver, someone isn't wearing their seatbelt) Now 23s low fuel alarm is just as annoying because its a series of chirps every few seconds. (The only time that happened was when we got the truck from the dealer, they gave us a 1/4 tank of fuel! Cheapos!

But I think ALL new apparatus need these types of sensors. Cause that alarm will get annoying and piss off either A)The Driver, B)The Officer, C)The Rest of the crew or D)The moron not wearing the seatbelt.

[thelurker]

admin said:

hp4l said:

I may be on my own with this thinking but if someone doesn't want to wear a seatbelt then f*** 'em. I know the driver is responsible but some idiot in the back of the truck not wearing his/her seatbelt isn't going to crash the truck. If the truck does crash, they will just be the one with the more serious injuries. They had their chance. It's unfortunate that it falls back on the driver when we should all be grown men and women.

It's like that stupid "click it or ticket" scam that the police run. Not wearing a seatbelt only endangers the idiot that isn't wearing it, not the rest of the people on the road. Sorry if you disagree with that. Just my opinion.

Brother...

I absolutely see where your coming from, however, I must respectfully disagree.

If a serious accident were to occure, it's already going to be bad enough that we all have unsecured equipment in the cabs that's going to be flying around and bouncing off everyone. Now imagine an unsecured firefighter becomming a flying projectile inside the same cab.

In essence, what I'm saying is that when riding as the officer or driver, I want people to wear their belts. (period) Someone in the cab not wearing their seatbelt is just as much of a risk to me and the rest of the crew as it is to themselves.

Jim, just picture me or Mikey flying around the inside of a cab, bouncing off of people and stuff. Someone is going to get crushed.

[WebBoss]

thelurker said:

admin said:

Brother...

I absolutely see where your coming from, however, I must respectfully disagree.

If a serious accident were to occure, it's already going to be bad enough that we all have unsecured equipment in the cabs that's going to be flying around and bouncing off everyone. Now imagine an unsecured firefighter becomming a flying projectile inside the same cab.

In essence, what I'm saying is that when riding as the officer or driver, I want people to wear their belts. (period) Someone in the cab not wearing their seatbelt is just as much of a risk to me and the rest of the crew as it is to themselves.

Jim, just picture me or Mikey flying around the inside of a cab, bouncing off of people and stuff. Someone is going to get crushed.

[glow=green,5,500]
OOMPHF![/glow]

That would be tight fit to pull off, but I'm sure the force of impact would be comperable to a head-on accident between a light rail train and a freight train. GADZOOKS!

[thelurker]

thelurker said:

admin said:

Brother...

I absolutely see where your coming from, however, I must respectfully disagree.

If a serious accident were to occure, it's already going to be bad enough that we all have unsecured equipment in the cabs that's going to be flying around and bouncing off everyone. Now imagine an unsecured firefighter becomming a flying projectile inside the same cab.

In essence, what I'm saying is that when riding as the officer or driver, I want people to wear their belts. (period) Someone in the cab not wearing their seatbelt is just as much of a risk to me and the rest of the crew as it is to themselves.

Jim, just picture me or Mikey flying around the inside of a cab, bouncing off of people and stuff. Someone is going to get crushed.

When I get the $$, I buy these stickers out of my pocket and put them in the cabs by the driver and officer seats. They might just remind some people, it's the best I can do.

[WebBoss]

thelurker said:

thelurker said:

Jim, just picture me or Mikey flying around the inside of a cab, bouncing off of people and stuff. Someone is going to get crushed.

When I get the $$, I buy these stickers out of my pocket and put them in the cabs by the driver and officer seats. They might just remind some people, it's the best I can do.

I was going to buy everyone these shirts...



If everyone gets fat, we're not going to fit in the cabs with any extra room, so therefore, no seatbelts required, and everyone gets to go home Fat, Dumb, and Happy.

mmmmmmmm..... DooooooooNut

[papacheese]

ROFLMAO