Riding on the Apparatus Safely Firefighter I. Copyright © Texas Education Agency 2012. All rights...

Riding on the Apparatus SafelyFirefighter I

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Safety First!

• Driver responsibility– To maintain the apparatus assigned to him or her in

the safest condition possible– To conduct daily, weekly, and monthly checks for

the following• The braking system• The electrical systems (including lighting and sirens)• Visual checks for system leaks


Safety First! (continued)

• Individual responsibility – To understand what can be done to minimize the

dangers inherent in riding on apparatus• The four riding positions on modern fire apparatus are

listed below, beginning with the safest:– Enclosed cab, secured in a seat belt– Open cab, secured with a seat belt– Back step or side step, secured with a restraining device– Back step or side step, wearing no restraining device



• Individual responsibility (continued)– To understand what can be done to minimize the

dangers inherent in riding on apparatus– Firefighters should choose the safest position

possible when given an option– Current standards disallow firefighters from riding

on the sides or rear of an apparatus; this rule should be strictly enforced even if the apparatus has side or rear steps



• Moving apparatus– Firefighters should only climb on or off an

apparatus while it is stationary– Firefighters should mount the apparatus only after

donning their protective clothing–When everyone is safely on the apparatus, the

driver may proceed to the destination– It is important to remember that firefighters have

been injured and/or killed jumping on and off of moving apparatus


Operating at Emergency Scenes

• Operating on the roadway– Oncoming traffic is the greatest danger when

operating at a car fire or vehicle extrication, not flames or flammable liquids

– The greatest threat is speeding drivers crashing into the rear of a parked apparatus and crushing the firefighters to death


Operating at Emergency Scenes (continued)

• Operating on the roadway (continued)–Warning signals should be placed to help protect

the firefighters on the scene• The first should be

– Placed 350 feet from the apparatus– Positioned to be visible to oncoming traffic at least 350 feet

beyond that– This gives drivers 700 feet to stop their vehicles

• If there are curves in the road, the warning devices may need to be placed farther away to give more notice


Operating at Emergency Scenes (continued)

• Operating at intersections– Some departments require that apparatus should stop at

all intersections not regulated by a traffic control device – Some departments require that apparatus be slowed

enough to stop if traffic fails to yield the right of way to the apparatus

– Apparatus drivers should always respond with the lights, the sirens, and any other safety device designed to notify traffic of their presence

– Apparatus drivers should drive “defensively” through all intersections


Negotiating Narrow Spaces

• Parked vehicles– These accidents • Are the most common collisions involving fire

apparatus• Generally occur when there are vehicles parked on both

sides of the street or if a vehicle is double-parked• Usually do not involve injuries, but they can put

responding companies out of service– Require backup for the initial response– Can be a life safety issue at the scene of the fire because of the

delayed response


Negotiating Narrow Spaces (continued)

• Responding on restricted roadways– Ask double-parked vehicles to move in order to allow the

apparatus access to the roadway– Firefighters can assist the apparatus driver through the

restricted roadway by determining if there is sufficient space • You may have to shut off audible devices to be able to

communicate with each other

– Dispatch should be informed of any delay in response because of a restricted roadway

– Remember that a delayed response serves the community better than no response; take the time to not have an accident


Operating Apparatus in Reverse

• Accident responsibility– The right side of the vehicle is most often assigned to the

officer– The left side of the vehicle is most often assigned to the driver– Moving in reverse is usually attributed to the firefighters other

than the driver• Firefighters should never ride on an apparatus that is operating in

reverse• They should be off of the apparatus assisting the driver who is

backing up the unit

– Firefighters should be careful exiting the apparatus to avoid being struck by oncoming vehicles


Operating Apparatus in Reverse (continued)

• Backing into the station– All traffic must be stopped first– A firefighter should be posted near the station door (on the

side opposite the driver) to extend the driver’s field of vision and to stop pedestrians from walking into the path of the reversing apparatus

– Firefighters should face oncoming traffic with traffic control devices (such as flashlights at night)

– Firefighters should be aware and ready to jump to safety in case they encounter drunk or reckless drivers

– Traffic may be allowed to proceed when the apparatus is completely out of the roadway


Safety on Apparatus

• Hearing protection– NFPA 1500 requires firefighters to wear hearing

protection while they are inside an apparatus with engine noise levels that exceed 90 decibels

– NFPA hearing protection equipment includes earplugs, earmuffs, or radio communication headsets


Safety on Apparatus (continued)

• Seatbelts - NFPA 1500 requires firefighters to sit inside closed cabs with their seatbelts fastened before the apparatus moves

• Protective clothing– Many departments require that firefighters be fully

dressed in all of their protective clothing prior to entering the apparatus

– Other departments allow their apparatus operators to wait until they are at the emergency response scene to don their coats and helmets


Resources

• 0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), 2008

• 1428339825, Firefighter's Handbook: Firefighter I and Firefighter II (1st Edition), Delmar Cengage Learning, 2008

• 0912212233, Safety and Survival on the Fireground, Vincent Dunn, Fire Engineering Books Department, 1992

• http://tkolb.net/tra_sch/FireTruckCrashes/TruckCrash.html

• Do an Internet search for the following:– Four Injured in Pasadena Car Accident Involving Fire Truck

http://tkolb.net/tra_sch/FireTruckCrashes/TruckCrash.html

http://tkolb.net/tra_sch/FireTruckCrashes/TruckCrash.html

Riding on the Apparatus Safely Firefighter I. Copyright © Texas Education Agency 2012. All rights...

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