July-August 2008

There is No Fire, But We’re Still Getting Injured

By Brian McGorty

Injuries are not just a fireground event. In fact, most of our injuries do not occur on the fireground. In researching the recent history of department injuries, it was noted that there exists a preponderance of preventable injuries. Listed below are some commonly occurring injuries and how to avoid them.

Don’t Be a Slip & Fall Guy.

• Preventive maintenance prevents injuries.

• Report broken steps, cracked sidewalks, leaks, etc.

• If you spill it, clean it.

• If you notice it, see above rule.

• “I” = ownership.

• “I saw it.” = ”I will take care of it.”

• Don’t touch things twice: when you are done with something, put it away. (Your Mother does not work here!!)

• If it’s wet, icy, oily, you will slip — unless you dry it, clean it, de-ice it.

Details Should Not Equal Disaster.

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

• Don’t just check out the rig, check out the house.

• Use the same caution / care / common sense in a different firehouse as you would on a fireground.

• House duties / routine maintenance / meal preparation areas / work out equipment and areas differ from house to house. Familiarize before using.

• House / apparatus familiarization should be ongoing.

• Check with the “normal” crew about idiosyncrasies before you discover them by “accident.”

All Rigs Are Not Created Equal.

• Doors and compartments open and are secured in different manners. Be aware that some also don’t secure well at all; some are as insecure as a first-day probie!

• Warning devices may not be the same as your “home” rig.

• Watch your step: heights, footholds, and handgrips for mounting and dismounting rigs vary.

• Check what’s above you head before you step up. Ditto for stepping down.

• Overlooking small details can cause big injuries.

Don’t Be a Tool, Let Your Equipment Work For You.

• Some items may have shifted during travel; use caution when opening overhead compartments.

• Nothing ever falls up, and gravity never takes a day off.

• If it falls out once, straighten it out. If it falls out twice, you need straightening out.

• It’s a scientific fact that what you don’t secure today will hit you or someone else on the foot or head tomorrow.

• Securing devices need attention too. If you don’t check to see that they are doing their job, you are not doing yours.

Respect Your Back or You’ll Wind Up on It.

• If it looks heavy, it probably is; get help.

• We are in a team sport all the time, not just on the fireground.

• When lifting, remember that your knees bend for a reason. Bend your knees, not your back.

• Giving someone a hand doesn’t mean clapping for him. Everyone pitches in.

• The extent of the injury is often in direct proportion to the haphazardly hasty manner in which it is performed. If you are looking to get done quickly, take your time. Think it out; do it safe.

To Sum It Up Safely:

• Pass information on.  Chances are someone knew about an unsafe condition before it hit you in the head.

• Set the example. Don’t be the example.

• Your personal safety is your own responsibility.

• Accident prevention is rooted in awareness and begins with you.

• While in some circumstances, ignorance may be bliss. In the fire service, it can be deadly. Be aware!

• If you can’t make it better, at least make it safe.