2008 LODD

[steve shryock 0]

What a horrible way to start off a new year.

3 LODD (Nationwide) in the first 3 days of 2008.

This is unaccecptable. The first 2 were vehicle accident related and the 3rd is currently unknown cause.

What are we doing wrong?? Why are we on the pace for 366 LODD this year??

I'm not placing blame at anyone or anywhere but what are we missing to reduce the numbers of LODD. Last year there where 115 and the year before 106.

I wish I knew the answers and hope that all stay safe and come home from every alarm.

May God watch over us and please protect us.

[huzzie59 75]

Received this from the County today. I'm sure many of you get this as well.

I think it would be important for this list to be discussed after you review it.

FROM:

John E. Jackson,

Deputy Commissioner/Fire Coordinator

Westchester County Dept. of Emergency Services

" Omnis Cedo Domus"

FYI , once again 115 firefighters gave their lives in 2007. God bless their souls and their families.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: HOW FIREFIGHTERS WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2007, from USFA

HOW FIREFIGHTERS WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2007:

Preliminary report

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Number of On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities as per USFA: 115

Count of Hometown Heroes: 8

Classification:

49 Career 42.6%

3 Wildland Full-Time 2.60%

2 Paid-on-Call 1.73%

59 Volunteer 51.3%

1 Wildland Contract 0.86%

1 Industrial 0.86%

Number of Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents: 7

Number of Firefighter Fatalities Associated with Wildland

Incidents: 10

Type of Duty:

24 Responding 20.8%

11 Training 9.56%

37 On-Scene Fire 32.1%

8 On-Scene Non-Fire 6.95%

13 After 11.3%

20 Other On-Duty 17.3%

2 Returning 1.73%

Percent of Fatalities Related to Emergency Duty: 64.3%

Number of firefighter fatalities associated with

suspicious/arson fires: 2

Type of Incident:

5 Wildland 4.34%

48 Structure Fire 41.7%

7 MVA 6.08%

3 Hazmat 2.60%

6 EMS 5.21%

1 Tech Rescue 0.86%

1 Outside Fire 0.86%

1 False Alarm 0.86%

41 Not Incident Related 35.6%

1 Other 0.86%

1 Unknown 0.86%

Cause of Fatal Injury:

19 Caught/Trapped 16.5%

1 Contact with 0.86%

4 Fall 3.47%

55 Stress/Overexertion 47.8%

4 Collapse 3.47%

3 Struck by 2.60%

26 Vehicle Collision 22.6%

2 Lost 1.73%

1 Other 0.86%

Nature of Fatal Injury:

16 Asphyxiation 13.9%

3 Crushed 2.60%

7 Burns 6.08%

2 CVA 1.73%

33 Trauma 28.6%

1 Electrocution 0.86%

52 Heart Attack 45.2%

1 Other 0.86%

Age of Firefighter When the Fatal Injury Was Sustained:

5 - Under 21

6 - 21 to 25

9 - 26 to 30

26 - 31 to 40

31 - 41 to 50

21 - 51 to 60

16 - 61 and Over

Percent of Firefighter Fatalities Under Age 40 37.4%

Type of Activity:

14 S&R 12.1%

2 IC 1.73%

11 Advance Hose Lines 9.56%

2 Extrication 1.73%

1 Standby 0.86%

3 Ventilation 2.60%

24 Responding 20.8%

3 Support 2.60%

3 Water Supply 2.60%

1 Scene Safety 0.86%

2 Other 1.73%

2 Unknown 1.73%

46 Not On Scene 40%

1 Unknown 0.86%

Time of Fatal Injury:

9 0100-0259

4 0300-0459

3 0500-0659

4 0700-0859

14 0900-1059

13 1100-1259

7 1300-1459

12 1500-1659

8 1700-1859

19 1900-2059

6 2100-2259

11 2300-0059

5 Unknown

Month of the Year:

8 January 6.95%

11 February 9.56%

7 March 6.08%

7 April 6.08%

13 May 11.3%

15 June 13.0%

13 July 11.3%

14 August 12.1%

10 September 8.69%

5 October 4.34%

6 November 5.21%

6 December 5.21%

Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fire Service

Organization:

3 Alabama 2.60%

1 Arkansas 0.86%

1 Arizona 0.86%

8 California 6.95%

1 Connecticut 0.86%

1 District of Columbia 0.86%

4 Florida 3.47%

1 Georgia 0.86%

2 Idaho 1.73%

5 Illinois 4.34%

3 Indiana 2.60%

5 Kansas 4.34%

3 Kentucky 2.60%

1 Louisiana 0.86%

4 Massachusetts 3.47%

1 Maryland 0.86%

1 Maine 0.86%

5 Michigan 4.34%

1 Mississippi 0.86%

8 North Carolina 6.95%

1 Nebraska 0.86%

5 New Jersey 4.34%

9 New York 7.82%

5 Ohio 4.34%

1 Oklahoma 0.86%

10 Pennsylvania 8.69%

11 South Carolina 9.56%

3 Tennessee 2.60%

3 Texas 2.60%

1 Utah 0.86%

1 Virginia 0.86%

1 Washington 0.86%

2 Wisconsin 1.73%

3 West Virginia 2.60%

Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fatal Incident:

3 Alabama 2.60%

1 Arkansas 0.86%

1 Arizona 0.86%

9 California 7.82%

1 Connecticut 0.86%

1 District of Columbia 0.86%

4 Florida 3.47%

1 Georgia 0.86%

1 Idaho 0.86%

5 Illinois 4.34%

3 Indiana 2.60%

5 Kansas 4.34%

3 Kentucky 2.60%

1 Louisiana 0.86%

4 Massachusetts 3.47%

2 Maryland 1.73%

1 Maine 0.86%

5 Michigan 4.34%

1 Mississippi 0.86%

8 North Carolina 6.95%

1 Nebraska 0.86%

5 New Jersey 4.34%

8 New York 6.95%

5 Ohio 4.34%

1 Oklahoma 0.86%

10 Pennsylvania 8.69%

11 South Carolina 9.56%

3 Tennessee 2.60%

3 Texas 2.60%

1 Utah 0.86%

1 Virginia 0.86%

1 Washington 0.86%

2 Wisconsin 1.73%

3 West Virginia 2.60%

[huzzie59 75]

Cause of 115 Fatal Injuries:

55 Stress/Overexertion 47.8%

26 Vehicle Collision 22.6%

19 Caught/Trapped 16.5%

4 Fall 3.47%

4 Collapse 3.47%

3 Struck by 2.60%

2 Lost 1.73%

1 Other 0.86%

1 Contact with 0.86%

We talk about reducing the number of LODD's. Can't we review this list to determine how we can?

The first two items seem to me to be the area where we can achieve the greatest reduction.

We have discussed on this site firefighter rehab. Could Stress / Overexertion be reduced with great awareness toward firefight rehab?

Vehicle Collision - Could better driver training help?

[M' Ave 1,466]

It says a lot that 75% of LODD's are not a result of the emergency itself. Certainly no one who perished this way died in vain, but it seems like these two areas could be worked on fairly easily. One is on driving, the other is completely on the individual. YOU NEED TO STAY IN SHAPE! You're going to go from resting to an adrenaline rush in seconds and that's hard on the heart if you're too sedentary or out of shape. It's just too sad to hear about such high numbers that could be curbed.

[eckyphats 0]

heres a major part of the problem... excited FF's racing to the firehouse or the scene in their POV's, inexperienced excited drivers racing apparatus to the scene, members not taking care of themselves, non existant exercise programs, no annual physical... 47.8% of the LODD's were health related, now granted I am not in the best shape, but im not nearly close to being in the worse shape. depts need to focus on proper physical fitness and driver training...

RIP to all members that gave their lives

[Paul J DeBartolomeo 0]

Very interesting information. We can really get a clearer picture of what is killing FF's in many instances. Its fascinating to look into time of day, time of year, and circumstances surrounding the incident to draw some conclusions that might help to make a change in the future. As stated in earlier posts we have to take care of ourselves if we want to survive. Im all for Dept fitness programs but its up to the individual to get motivated to get in shape. This is clearly one thing that we can each take control of and prevent in the future. Of course training is another area where we can focus to reduce accidents on the fireground and responding but its got to start with the individual. Just my 2 cents.

Stay Safe in 2008

[Oswegowind 17]

Take out the UNDER 21 and OVER 61 and you have less than 100 to begin with! Maybe not only addressing the other issues, but tackling the age issue may be an idea! I know they were a small percent, however they are a part of the total number.