Fire Department Recognized for Seatbelt Pledge

From Mike Dunn, public information officer for the City of Temple Terrace:

The has earned recognition for its full participation in the International Fire Service Seatbelt Pledge program, officials said Friday.

The certificate of recognition was presented by the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which sponsors the safety campaign Buckle Up! So Everyone Goes Home to encourage firefighters to wear seatbelts when riding in department vehicles.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the second-leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States, and this effort aims to reduce the number of preventable fatalities,” said Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki, executive director of the firefighters foundation.

Temple Terrace Fire Chief Keith Chapman said the pledge helps hold firefighters accountable for safety when they’re on an emergency run. All 51 of the department’s emergency responders signed the pledge, he said.

“This formalizes everyone’s pledge to make sure they’re buckled up when the apparatus is moving,” he said.

The pledge was created in 2006 after the tragic death of a firefighter who died after falling from a fire truck on the way to a call. Five years later, more than 850 departments and 150,000 firefighters across the nation have signed the pledge.