For the first time in the San FD's history

[Guest guest]

From G's TSL.

My $ 64,000.00 Question is how will the SAFD Union handle this?

The IAFF supports the Courage to be Safe Program and a HUGE PART OF THAT

IS SEAT BELTS!!!!!!

There are enough risks in emergency response (police, fire, EMS, whatever)

to get hurt or hurt worse than need be while not wearing a seat belt!!!

Time will tell??????

Kudos to Chief Hood!!!

For the first time in the San FD's history, 3 Firefighters

(including a Captain) have been suspended for traveling at an unsafe speed and

not

buckling up while responding to a fire last year.

In San , Ladder 35 rolled over, seriously injured one of the four

men inside and destroyed the $600,000 truck.And it looks like Fire Chief

Hood is making an example of it and probably saving some FF's lives in

the future. Sometimes we have to be saved from ourselves. While written

rules, policies and pledges are important, the no nonsense understanding,

respect and enforcement of the department policy is equally important.

Firefighter Wheeler, 29, was driving the rig to the building fire

call around 1800 hours back on Nov. 14. At 33 mph, FF Wheeler tried to turn

left onto an access road, but couldn't hold the corner and rolled it on its

side. Airbags deployed and FF Arranaga, 30, was trapped. Wheeler,

29, Captain Larry Schultz, 59, and FF Brad Phipps, 31, were uninjured. Cops

said speeding caused the crash.

Apparently a seat belt policy at the SAFD alone doesn't ensure compliance

by some Firefighters and Officers, so the Chief disciplined the uninjured

crew members.

Captain Schultz received the harshest punishment: a 60-day suspension

because the truck and crew ultimately were his responsibility, as the

supervisor. FF Wheeler was suspended for 45 days and Phipps for 5 days.

Arranaga, a

1 year veteran whose first day at the station was the day of the crash,

wasn't suspended as he followed his Captains example, and his injuries were

punishment enough.

In the days after Ladder 35's crash, Chief Hood took other steps. Seat

belt drills now are required, drivers are getting additional training, and all

1,674 operations employees were ordered to go take a look at the

demolished fire truck. The cab will be displayed at the training academy as a

permanent reminder.

HERE is more: _http://tinyurl.com/6j9lev8_

(http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=8hkx6tcab&et=1104792213773&s=364&e=001sa2o_AVVpeu\

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SUpNlinciD4Xxygp4nW8SSqObuqk5eg8UM-EIjV-3kwuwnknvhKG34wt_ufTPxq03NtJ9CEFBMUi

TQ==)

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

(Office)

(Office Fax)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

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discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)

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