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
