Highway Safety for Emergency Service Personnel

1. Highway Safety for Emergency Service Personnel

2. Program Overview Introduction - Pre-Quiz Evaluation 15 minutes Chapter I - Extent of the Problem 30 minutes Chapter II - Planning, Multi Agency Communication and Coordination 20 minutes Break 10 minutes Chapter III - SOPs/SOGs 20 minutes Chapter IV - On Scene Operation: 30 minutes The First 60 minutes

3. Program Overview Cont’d Chapter V - Apparatus Design & Equipment 20 minutes Break 10 minutes Chapter VI - Scenarios & Best Practices 45 minutes Chapter VII - Review 20 minutes Course Wrap - Post Quiz - Evaluation. 20 minutes Total Time 240 minutes - 4 hours

4. Program Objectives • Understand the Overall Goal of this Highway Safety Program • Recognize the Importance of this Highway Safety Program • Identify the Elements of this Highway Safety Program

5. Definition of Highway • Any roadway on which a Vehicle-Related Incident could occur • This could include interstate, suburban, rural, dirt and other roadways • Anywhere a vehicle could travel For this course, the term “highway” refers to:

6. Comprehensive Highway Safety Program • Classroom Instruction • Initial Training, Orientation & Drills • Testing and Evaluation

7. Listen to This Audio Midwest City, Oklahoma Click speaker icon to hear 911 call

8. Chapter 1 Extent of the Problem

9. Extent of the Problem Objectives • Describe the Roles and Responsibilities Related to Personal Safety at Highway Incident Scenes. • Recognize the factors that contribute to the incidence of highway emergency worker injury and death. • Discuss the Impact of Injuries and Deaths to Emergency Service Workers. • Explain the rationale for changing the attitude of emergency workers at highway incidents.

10. Perspective • Reflect on Your First FF or EMS class • What Do You Remember about Highway Safety? • Potential for Personal Injury • Changes in Vehicles • Increased Traffic Volume

11. Highway Injury/Accident Data FIRE/EMS Fatalities

12. 2000 Fire & EMS Incidents • 22 incidents involving Fire & EMS personnel • 4 Firefighter & 1 EMT Fatalities • 19 Fire or EMS responders injured • 13 fire apparatus or ambulances struck

13. 2001 Fire & EMS Incidents • 33 Incidents Total(31 in U.S., 1 in Australia & 1 in Canada) • 8 Fire/EMS Fatalities – 6 in U.S. & 1 Firefighter each in Australia & Canada • 26 Fire/EMS responders injured

14. 2001 Fire & EMS Incidents • 19 Incidents while operating at MVA scenes • 9 Incidents while personnel “directing traffic” • 9 Incidents while operating at fire scenes • 4 Incidents while backing units into stations • 4 Incidents involving fire apparatus that “moved” while parked at incidents

15. Extent of the Problem What They Didn’t Teach You in FF1 or EMT class………

16. “It Was Just A Routine Call” • LIONVILLE , PA • March 9, 1998 – Raining with wet roadways • Initial alarm was at 14:10 for a car in a ditch on the PA. Turnpike. • Uwchlan Ambulance and Lionville Fire / Rescue responded with an Ambulance, Engine, Rescue, the Chief & an Assistant Chief.

17. “It Was Just A Routine Call” • Tractor Trailer driver loses control and crashes into scene. • Mass confusion at the scene. • Many assist companies self-dispatched. • Heavy radio traffic due to weather related calls • Weather grounded Medivac right after crash.

18. “It Was Just A Routine Call” • Aftermath of the crash. • 8 firefighters and 2 EMT’s involved in the crash • 1 fatality and 9 serious injuries. • Assistant Chief was disabled for several months – Eventually resigned from the department. • Physical therapy and numerous surgeries for one firefighter.

19. Firefighter Killed Midwest City, OK NIOSH Investigation

20. FirefighterKilled Midwest City, OK NIOSH Investigation

21. NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigations • NIOSH Report 99F-27 - August 5, 1999 Incident in Oklahoma - 2 Career firefighters were struck on an interstate; one was killed, and one with serious injuries < http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face9927.html > • NIOSH Report 99F-38 - September 27, 1999 Incident in South Carolina - Volunteer dies after being struck by a tractor trailer truck. < http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face9938.html >

22. NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigations Recommendations • Establish, implement and enforce, standard operating procedures (SOP’s) regarding emergency operations for highway incidents. • Position apparatus to take advantage of topography and weather conditions (uphill / upwind) & protect firefighters from traffic. • First control oncoming vehicles before addressing the emergency event, in the event the police have not arrived. • Ensure that personnel position themselves and victims in a secure area, when it’s not possible to protect the incident scene. • (DOT) - Use of “variable message signs” to informmotorists ofhazardous conditions or vehicular accidents.

23. NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigations Recommendations • Ensure that personnel park or stage unneeded vehicles off the street / highway whenever possible. • Ensure that personnel wear personal protective clothing that is suitable to that incident while operating at an emergency scene such as a highly reflectorized flagger vest (strong yellow green and orange ). • Ensure that personnel conducting traffic control measures use a highly visible stop / slow paddle. • Establish pre-incident plans for areas that have a higher rate of automobile incidents.

24. 2002 Fire & EMS Incidents • 01-01-02: Madras, OR – Paramedic struck & killed. Placing flares out to protect the scene of an MVA when he was struck by tractor trailer. • 01-02-02: Tampa, FL – Fire Engine struck on scene of a shopping center building fire. Engine was in parking lot, and was struck by a stolen car driven by a teenager. • 01-06-02: Goochland, VA – Firefighter struck & leg amputated. Car skidded on ice and struck firefighter who was pinned between two vehicles.

25. 2002 Incidents Cont’d. • 03-13-02: Norfolk, VA – 2 Firefighters struck & injured. Fighting a car fire in HOV lanes in dense fog. Struck by civilian who could not see the scene. • 03-20-02: Gluckstadt , MS – Firefighter struck & killed. Working an MVA on an Interstate, struck by motorist while crossing the road. • 03-25-02: Long Island, NY – 2 Firefighters struck. One killed and one seriously injured. Driver under the influence ran through road barricades and struck them at the scene of a training exercise.

26. 2002 Incidents Cont’d • 6-8-02: Wildwood, FL – Off-duty FF and physician were killed assisting at rescue • 7-1-02: Esko, MN – FF killed and other injured after chain reaction plows into their work area • 8-19-02: Richmond County, NC – Chief struck by vehicle assisting at accident • 10-6-02: Jefferson County, OK – Two Paramedics killed • 11-30-02: Valence, France – Five FF killed – two of which are thrown into Drome River

27. Contributing Factors • Ineffective Notice to Civilian Drivers • Weather and Roadway Conditions • Lack of Visibility and Lighting • Emergency Worker Physical Movement • Private Vehicles • Protection of the Scene

28. Impacts of ESO Injuries & Deaths • Death of ESO Personnel • Death Caused by ESO Personnel • Long Term Impact • Psychological Impact

29. Other Concerns • Loss of Experienced Personnel • Stress of Criminal or Civil Litigation • Financial Impact to ESO • Failure to Deliver Service • Poor Public Image Related to Safety

30. Words to Live By “Firefighters responding to calls need to operate as if someone is trying to run them over.” –James Joyce Fire Commissioner Chicago Fire Department

31. Chapter 2 Planning, Multi-Agency Coordination & Communication

32. Communication & Coordination Objectives • Discuss How Planning Reduces the Amount of On-Scene Time • Discuss the Unified Command Process Related to Highway Incidents • List Exercises to Utilize to Improve Communication & Coordination • Identify Highway Safety Threat Areas

33. Communication & Coordination • Planning • Training with Other Agencies • Tabletop Exercises • Simulations • Post-Incident Analysis

34. Incident & Unified Command • Assurefirst arriving emergency vehicle establish an initial block to create a safe work area • Assess the parking needs of EMS, later arriving apparatus and other highway responders • Assure that all ambulances on-scene are placed within the protected work area

35. Incident & Unified Command Cont’d. • Instruct the driver of the ambulance to “block to the right” or “block to the left” to position the rear patient loading area away from the closest lane of moving traffic. • Assure that all patient loading into transporting EMS vehicles is done within a protected work zone.

36. Accountability on the Scene “Best Practices” • Accountability System in Place on ALL Incidents • Ability to account for all personnel on scene • Could you identify if any of your crew were under a vehicle that intruded on your scene?

37. Planning, Communication & Coordination • Identifying Target Locations • Highway Construction Projects • Special Events • Planned Detours

38. SOPs/SOGs Chapter 3

39. SOPs/SOGs Objectives • Differentiate Between SOGs and SOPs related to Highway Safety • Better Understand the Benefits of SOGs related to Highway Safety • List Highway Safety Subject Areas for Consideration in SOPs/SOGs

40. What are SOPs/SOGs? • Defines how ESO will Operate • Don’t Confuse with Pre-Plans • Not Intended to Duplicate Technical Information

41. General Provisions • All Personnel Understand What is Expected or Required • Intended Compliance with all Necessary Requirements is Identified • Planned Agreed Upon Actions • Resource Document upon which to Base Training • Required Actions Have Been Anticipated

42. Legal & Regulatory Implications • Laws, Regulations and Standards • Interface with Other Documents • Administrative Requirements • Operational Reasons

43. Highway Safety Awareness Build highway safety awareness through more intense training • Incorporate highway safety awareness into Firefighter 1 or EMT classes • Include in Station or Company Orientation • Include in Annual Service Training • Bulletins, SOGs, Lessons for Losses • Evaluate apparatus placement and safety procedures during all drills and training sessions

44. Chapter 4 On Scene Operations:The First 60 Minutes

45. On Scene Operation Objectives • Describe the Effects of SOPs/SOGs on Emergency Response to Various Highway Incidents • Describe the Actions that Must be Fulfilled at a Highway Emergency Scene to Ensure Safe Operation • List and Describe Personal Safety Measures to be used by Emergency Responders while working in or Near Moving Traffic

46. On Scene Operation Objectives Cont’d. • Describe the Roles and Responsibilities of the Emergency Service Worker Related to Personal Safety at Highway Incidents • Recognize and Respond to the Emotional and Psychological affects Emergency Workers Experience at Highway Incidents

47. On Scene Operations • Response • Positioning of Emergency Vehicles The First 60 Minutes

48. The First 60 Minutes Safety Officer “Best Practices” Safety Officer assigned for scene safety Scene hazards and traffic control

49. Personal Safety Measures • Don appropriate reflective vest and clothing • Look before exiting the vehicle • Exit and Enter the Vehicle on the Downstream Side • Look Before You Step

50. Safety Measures Cont’d. • Keep Your Eyes on the Traffic • Limit Your Exposure • Reduce Your Profile