From the Editor’s Desk
Dennis Whittam, Editor

 

Have a Safe and Healthy New Year!
 

The United States Fire Administration stated that, last year saw the lowest recorded number of on-duty firefighter deaths since the USFA began tracking totals, according to preliminary statistics. If you want a complete breakdown of the statistics, visit their Website at www.usfa. fema.gov. The USFA does an excellent job in providing us with facts that are important to the well-being of the fire service. I visit their site often. The 2010 statistics for the type of duty associated with firefighter deaths are as follows: 20 on-scene at fires, 19 other on-duty, 16 responding, 16 after, seven training, four on-scene (non-fire related), one returning, one other, and one unknown. I looked further into the statistics and realized that statistics are complicated. In 1981 we had 2,893,500 calls and there were 75 deaths related to those calls. In 2010, we had 1,331,500 calls and 21 deaths. Injuries in 1981 were 67,510 and in 2010 they were 32,675.

A chiefs nightmare is notifying a family that one of their department members has died in the line of duty. Even if a firefighter survives a serious incident, the chief may have to deal with problems that develop later as a result of the incident.

A few weeks ago, I attended the funeral of a FDNY Lieutenant. Lt. Joseph DiBernardo. He retired after being forced to jump four stories to save his own life on what became to be known as Black Sunday (January 23, 2005). Two of Joeys colleagues died and three others survived the fall but were seriously injured, as was Joey. What good came from this tragedy? The bailout systems that firefighters are required to wear today are a direct result of this tragedy. After Joeys accident, he made sure everyone he knew paid attention to being safe. He wanted people to learn from his terrible experience.

Lets face facts. A single firefighter death is too many. All of us need to promote safety in 2012. Evaluate yourself. Make sure you stick to that diet that everyone starts after the holidays. Exercise and drill regularly. When you come down to the firehouse, open a door or two on your truck and refresh yourself on the equipment in that compartment.

In 2012, make it a company commitment to do things safer, healthier and wiser.
Have a safe and healthy 2012!
 

…Dennis