The Chief's Corner

Chief’s Message

Each day a firefighter goes to work they expect to see devastating fires, personal injuries and motor vehicle accidents.  Most are exactly that:  accidents.  We must consider, however, the possibility that some of the accidents can and should be prevented. 

Fire Prevention and Public Education programs in our county have reduced the fatality rate by educating the public about having working smoke detectors, a family safety evacuation plan and each family having a predetermined safe place to meet in the event of a fire. 

Why have we dismissed the need to educate the public about motor vehicle accidents?  Maybe it’s too close to home.  Maybe fire and EMS personnel exhibit the same behavior that causes accidents in the public sector.  Although we require drivers in our state to wear seat belts, how do we teach them to pay attention? 

Many of the motor vehicle accidents, “MVA’s” that we respond to seem to follow a pattern of driver inattention.  Firefighters hear again and again that a driver was talking on a cell phone, eating a meal, smoking or even putting on makeup!  The combination of any of these acts plus speed equals disaster. 

American car manufactures do not help us in this endeavor.  While our vehicles are equipped with 16 cup holders and two DVD players with flat screens, European cars only put cup holders on cars destined for the United States.  Why?  In Europe, drivers concentrate on driving, not eating and watching TV.  Recently, a crash on the Autobahn Highway involved 30 cars in one accident.  Only one person went to the hospital with minor injuries.  Maybe we should take a lesson from our European brethren.  Drive like your life depends on it.   

The fire service must accept the responsibility of pubic education in the safe operation of motor vehicles.  We as a service see far too many bodies on the roadway.  Wearing seat belts have made a dramatic difference in highway fatalities.  We must convince the public that paying attention and slower speed will keep more of us alive!  

Chief Donnie Sexton