Taking an effortless step toward safety can be as simple as a click! The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) today introduced the redesigned International First Responder Seatbelt Pledge, Buckle Up! So Everyone Goes Home®. The revised program, part of the Foundation’s Everyone Goes Home® program, will make it easier for firefighters to participate in the initiative and receive recognition for their commitment.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the second-leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States and this effort aims to reduce the number of preventable fatalities,” said Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki, Executive Director of the NFFF. “Just as you need to get to the scene of a call quickly, you need to get there safely. Buckling your seatbelt is the easiest safety measure you can take.”
Now, all the information about the program, including pledge forms and supporting materials, will be available through the NFFF and the Foundation’s Everyone Goes Home® website. This will shorten the process to certify and recognize participation. The ultimate goal is to enroll every emergency first responder in the United States. Departments that are 100 percent compliant will be highlighted on the Everyone Goes Home® seatbelt site.
Dr. Burton Clark, a distinguished member of the fire service for 40 years and a training specialist at the National Fire Academy, has been the lead advocate of the National Seatbelt Pledge since the inception of the Pledge in 2006. Dr. Clark will continue to serve as an advisor and liaison for the campaign. Numerous organizations within the fire service, including the United States Fire Administration, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fire Protection Association, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the National Volunteer Fire Council have partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for this vitally important safety program.
Make the commitment to Buckle Up! So Everyone Goes Home® by taking the International First Responder Seatbelt Pledge. For more information go to: www.everyonegoeshome.com/seatbelts.
