“Responders Ahead! Reduce Your Speed as You Proceed.”
That’s the theme of National Crash Responder Safety Week, which begins today and runs through Nov. 22.
During a webinar by the Federal Highway Administration at 1 p.m. today, responders and others killed while working on roads will be honored while survivors will share stories.
Operating on a highway or road is dangerous for not only fire and EMS personnel and police officers, but also for tow truck operators and others who respond to help motorists.
The statistics collected by Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) are staggering.
Thirty-five people have been killed as they worked along a highway so far this year, compared to 45 who lost their lives in 2023.
They include three fire and EMS personnel; 17 law enforcement officers; 10 tow operators; three Department of Transportation (DOT) employees and one road service technician.
In 2023, eight fire and EMS personnel; 14 law enforcement officers; 20 tow truck operators and three DOT employees were killed.
"In the last five years (2019-2023), 251 emergency responders were hit and killed by a vehicle while just doing their job helping others. This is not a number. These were 251 beloved people whose deaths left an irreparable tear in their families, departments, and communities," according to the 2023 ERSI annual report.
“We’re the only ones collecting data about workers struck along the road. And, we know that we really don’t have an accurate number because not all are reported by local media or others,” explained Jack Sullivan, ERSI director of training.
For Crash Responder Safety Week, ERSI has provided the following training resources for each day:L
Monday, Nov. 18: Responders Ahead! Reduce Your Speed as You Proceed
Tuesday, Nov. 19: Driver Education
Wednesday, Nov. 20: Responder Training
Thursday, Nov. 21: More Than a Crash
Friday, Nov. 22: Slow Down, Move Over
About three years ago, the committee launched a portal where anyone can report struck-bys and near misses on the highway. Sullivan hopes people will continue to share information.
“It takes probably four minutes to complete,” he explained, adding that while they are trying to obtain as much information as possible, the questions are optional.
For instance, the submitter will be asked if the incident happened at a crash scene, debris removal, directing traffic, disabled vehicle, a work zone or while EMS or firefighters were assisting.
ERSI, a committee of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association, stays focused on the project.
Recently, they were awarded a $452,209.52 Fire Prevention and Safety grant to enhance their effort to keep responders safe while operating on the roads.
Upgrades to network education models, create public outreach, enhance marketing and social media presence and hiring a researcher to analyze the data are among the projects that Sullivan says are priorities.
Thanks to the FEMA grant, a group at Embry-Riddle University will be reviewing the submitted documents and entering ones that meet the criteria into a database.They also will issue regular reports.
Until they come aboard, Sullivan and the other volunteerss will continue entering the information and responding to questions about struck-bys and near misses.
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
