Firefighters Pledge to Wear Seatbelts

In 2006, Texas firefighter Brian Hutton fell from his fire truck while responding to a call and died. Since then firefighters have called on each other to observe basic safety, like wearing a seatbelt, even in the most routine aspects of their jobs.

Fairfax City Fire Department accepted the challenge. The department was recognized at Tuesday's Northern Virginia Regional Fire Chiefs Committee meeting for complying with the National Fire Service Seatbelt Pledge.

"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 National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. "Just as you need to get to the scene of a call quickly, you need to get there safely; buckling your seatbelt is the easiest safety measure you can take."

Fire Chief Dave Rohr accepted the Certificate of Compliance presented by Victor
Stagnaro, Director of the Fire Service Programs of the National Fallen firefighter
Foundation. The department's commitment to firefighter safety and Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives is an indication of his firefighter’s duty not only to the city’s 22,000 residences but to their own families and to stay safe and healthy.

Video courtesy of Dave Statter.