OUR ESO GROUP HAS RECENTLY EXPERIENCED TWO VERY UNFORTUNATE FATALITIES

OUR ESO GROUP HAS RECENTLY EXPERIENCED TWO VERY UNFORTUNATE FATALITIES
1. Fatality occurred when member was responding to a call, lost control of vehicle and vehicle went off the road.

• Age of Driver – 66
• Length of Service – 5y 3m
• # of Volunteers – 0-25
• Description of Accident – Was traveling to accident scene in POV. Individual was not wearing a seat belt. He was responding because the two people who were responding in the ambulance were not certified to transport anyone in an ambulance.  The claimant was certified to drive, but he was off duty.
• Extent of Training Provided – Department did not provide appropriate training to assure personnel were qualified to perform their particular job description/tasks.
• Rural or Suburban Department Involved – Rural EMS Organization

2.  Fatality occurred when two members were responding to a call.  Someone pulled out in front of them, and the other driver lost control of his vehicle.  Weather conditions were not an issue. This claim has resulted in a potential loss of more than $220,000.

• Age of Driver – 20
• Length of Service – 1y 4m
• # of Volunteers – 0-25
• Description of Accident – Member had gone from an emergency scene to a personal event. Received a fire call and was in route back to station by POV to pick up a truck at the station to respond to fire call when a car pulled out in front of them. It appears individual was not wearing a seat belt and speed may have also been a factor.
• Extent of Training Provided – Department had not conducted or provided any safety training on safe driving practices or principles prior to this fatality.
• Rural or Suburban Department Involved – Rural Fire Department

Common factors in both of these fatalities and preventative measures are:

• Lack of use of seat belts – THERE IS NO REASON OR EXCUSE FOR NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS IN DEPARTMENT AND PERSONALLY OWNED VEHICLES AT ALL TIMES!
• Operating POV to emergency call/scene – POVs should be operated with the SAME CARE as any other emergency vehicle.
• Lack of emergency vehicle driver training – All departments should have a comprehensive driver education program:

1. All new members should receive emergency vehicle driver training at time of hire before operating any emergency vehicles (including POVs).  Training should include a minimum of 4 hours of classroom training concentrating on defensive driving, legal aspects of emergency vehicle operations, physical dynamics and review of departmental emergency vehicle response guidelines (SOGs).  Also 10 hours of documented behind-the-wheel training and final road test with at least 2 training/qualifying officers.
2. All members should have annual classroom refresher training and behind-the-wheel re-training and/or re-certification at least every 3 years.
3. Drivers returning from suspension of privileges and/or returning to active status after inactive for more than 6 months should be re-certified.

Many safety resources on these topics and more are available to you on the Texas Mutual website athttp://www.texasmutual.com/safety/safety.shtm or the VFIS website at http://www.vfis.com/emergency-responder-education-training-consulting.htm.

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact your agent or the ESO Group Administrator, Barbara Marzean, at 800-252-9435 or info@esowcgroup.com.

Testimony or Best Practice

Send us your testimony or best practice.  Please contactinfo@esowcgroup.com whenever you have useful information or best practices to share with other members of the ESO safety group.