The Seatbelt Paradox: Unbelted Firefighters are still dying every Year

Four years ago, I published a column saying that I hoped that 2017 would be the first year that no firefighter died as a result of injuries from not being seat-belted when operating or riding in a moving vehicle.

Unfortunately, that goal was not met in 2017. Or in 2018. Or 2019. Or 2020.

Firefighters continue to die as a result of failing to use seat belts, the most avoidable of all line-of-duty-death (LODD) causes. Why is this still happening?

There has been a significant cultural shift over the past 50 years when it comes to seat belts. I am old enough to remember when they were merely a suggestion, and some vehicles were not even equipped with them. In the days of open cabs and firefighters riding the tailboard, seat belts often conflicted with practical operations. Read More…