Injuries That Occurred When Mounting or Dismounting the Apparatus

From Dec. 15, 2012 to Dec. 15, 2013, we have seen 213 injuries that occurred while mounting or dismounting fire trucks or EMS vehicles. Of these injuries, 128 were minor and the remaining 85 were serious.

The most frequently injured body parts were knees, ankles, and backs.The most common type of injury reported was a strain or sprain, followed by contusions, bruises, and minor trauma. 

Injuries related to mounting or dismounting apparatuses were a result of many variables. While the majority of these injuries occurred when arriving or returning to the scene, others occurred during station duties such as vehicle maintenance and check ups. Most injuries were a result of the following:

• stepping off the apparatus onto uneven terrain
• stepping off or on too quickly
• slipping, tripping, or falling
• weather conditions, e.g. rain, ice, sleet, or snow
• failure to pay attention to surroundings
• carrying or lifting heavy equipment  

For more information about this subject please visit our Library Services page to reach our audio visual resources.

Library Resources:

SAFE ARRIVAL 
AV07-2066  Date Acquired: 5/2/2007  Length: 30:00  Format: DVD  Author: FETN
Apparatus safety should be a priority of every fire department. Many of today's fire apparatus operators do not know the rules of emergency vehicle response, nor do they understand the liability that they undertake with each and every response. Learning objectives covered in this FETN training program are: the importance of a safe response, including the mandatory use of seatbelts; the mental attitudes of responsibility for personal safety; the definition of a true emergency and what responses fit the definition of a true emergency; the different dynamics of modern day fire apparatus versus those of an automobile; and the technique used to safely recover control of the apparatus once the apparatus has left the hard surface of the roadway. A study guide accompanies the DVD. (2007)

SAFE OPERATION OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES 
AV09-2345  Date Acquired: 10/2/2009  Length: 17:09  Format: DVD  Author: ACTION TRAINING
This program presents safety factors for starting and driving fire apparatus. The focus is on pumping apparatus, but the safe driving information applies to all types of emergency vehicles. The training objectives are: to present safe driving techniques that apply to all emergency vehicles, to show how to correctly start and operate both gasoline and diesel powered pumping apparatus, and to demonstrate the performance criteria for the practical driving exercies in NFPA 1002-98. (c2003)

VEHICLE DRIVING OPERATIONS: PART 1-3 
AV06-2037  Date Acquired: 11/3/2006  Length: 1:30:00  Format: DVD  Author: FETN
In 2003 more firefighters died in the line of duty while driving to and from calls than died from fighting fires. Part 1 of this 3 part series on Vehicle Driving Operations presents the results of three major studies that have been done on apparatus accidents that document the issues and problems. The learning objectives are: to understand the severity of fire apparatus incidents, to reference at least three national studies of fire apparatus incidents and have an understanding of their recommendations, and to identify five impact areas on the fire department and the community when a fatality occurs from a fire apparatus incident. In Part 2, the learning objectives are: for emergency personnel to be aware of the need to avoid excessive speed during an emergency response, to demonstrate more effective methods and procedures to use during an emergency response to increase safety, and to better understand the typical motorist and his lack of hearing and seeing emergency response vehicles in typical situations. In Part 3 the learning objectives are: to be aware of the 15 procedures and recommended policies that an emergency agency should establish and implement to improve emergency vehicle driving safety. (2006)

POSITIONING APPARATUS 
AV09-2346  Date Acquired: 10/2/2009  Length: 19:25  Format: DVD  Author: ACTION TRAINING
A driver/operator or engineer must be able to quickly and efficiently maneuver the apparatus in all types of situation. This program demonstrates the correct positioning of pumping apparatus for different functions such as fire attack, water supply and highway operations. The training objectives are: to present the factors involved in determining the positioning of attack pumpers, to demonstrate correct positioning for water supply pumpers, to show correct pumper positioning for special situations, to define and demonstrate staging procedures, and to present the tactical and safety considerations of operations on limited access highways. (c2003)

APPARATUS INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE 
AV09-2348  Date Acquired: 10/2/2009  Length: 16:50  Format: DVD  Author: ACTION TRAINING
An organized system of preventive maintenance assures that the apparatus will be in top condition ready to respond to an emergency. This program presents the tasks involved in routine pumping apparatus inspection and maintenance required of a driver/operator. The training objectives are: to demonstrate a systematic apparatus inspection procedure, to present the tasks for routine maintenance of the apparatus, and to show procedures for inspection and preventive maintenance of the fire pump. (c2003)