by Matthew T. McNabb
In February 2010, firefighters from across Oklahoma participated in a seat belt study in which they were asked about their use of seat belts while they were on duty. Departments of varying types and sizes were included. The intent of the study was to learn more about the second leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs), vehicle accidents.1. “Since 1984, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) have accounted for between 20 and 25 percent of LODDs fatalities annually, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990-2000. “Approximately 27 percent of the fatalities in MVCs were ejected from the vehicle at the time of the collision,” the report explains, and “only 21 percent of these firefighters were reportedly wearing their seat belts prior to the collision.”2
The survey drew 588 responses, representing a 24.3 percent response rate, with 96.3 percent successfully completing the survey. A quantitative analysis of seat belt use among Oklahoma firefighters was electronically distributed to 2,419 firefighters in 17 Oklahoma fire departments, which included municipal, rural, career, volunteer, and combination federal/military, tribal, and contract organizations.
Of the respondents, 93.1 percent (524) were male, and 6.9 percent (39) were female. The most common age (mode) was split between 38 and 46. Almost half (49.9 percent) (281) of the respondents reported having 15+ years experience, and 18.3 percent (103) reported having 0 to 5 years. The majority (83.4 percent) (471) were from paid/career departments; 6.4 percent (36) were from federal/military departments.
The positive key findings of the survey were the following: (1) Nearly all fire apparatus in Oklahoma are equipped with seat belts, and (2) During routine driving and emergencies (except fires), the majority of firefighters wear their seat belts.
The negative key findings were the following: (1) The largest percentage of firefighters reported not wearing their seat belt en route to a fire, and (2) The largest percentage of firefighters reported not having seat belt training within their fire department. Download the entire study HERE (PDF, 4 MB).
The following were among the additional findings of the survey:
- 45.5 percent (261) of the firefighters always wear their seat belt; 38.7 percent (222) sometimes do.
- 60.6 percent (352) feel their peers sometimes wear their seat belt; 19.3 percent (112) feel they rarely wear them.
- During medical emergencies, 43.5 percent (246) wear their seat belt 100 percent of the time.
- During vehicle emergencies, 38.8 percent (219) wear their seat belt 100 percent of the time.
- During fire emergencies, 40.2 percent (228) wear their seat belt 0 to 25 percent of the time.
- During routine driving, 53.0 percent (303) wear their seat belt 100 percent of the time.
- 72.2 percent (419) said the duration of a trip does not impact their seat belt use.
- 55.9 percent (320) reported being in zero accidents while on duty; 41.8 percent (239) reported being involved in one to three accidents while on duty.
- 60.6 percent (341) said seat belt use within their fire department is recommended; 30.0 percent (169) reported that they automatically use their seat belt.
- 40.6 percent (230) are sometimes encouraged by their peers to wear a seat belt.
- 94.0 percent (530) reported all of their fire department vehicles were equipped with seat belts.
- 48.5 percent (271) reported they had not received seat belt training from their fire department.
