Tuesday, November 25, 2008

NIOSH Supports Seat Belt Use by Firefighters




Emmitsburg, MD - The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is pleased to announce that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has added its logo to the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge 100% Participation Certificate. This endorsement of the seat belt campaign, by NIOSH Acting Director Dr. Christine Branche, reinforces the importance of wearing these safety devices to the American Fire Service.

U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade said, “We are grateful to NIOSH for adding their logo to the Seat Belt Pledge 100% Certificate. We welcome their participation to further support our efforts to encourage and remind firefighters to buckle up.”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health joins the U.S. Fire Administration, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation as leading supporters of the Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge Campaign. To date, over 70,000 firefighters have taken the pledge and approximately 300 fire departments have received a 100% Certificate for their accomplishment in getting all personnel to sign the pledge. The goal of this program is 1,000,000 firefighter signatures and 30,000 fire departments with 100% participation.
“Wearing seat belts is an essential component of efforts to ensure the safety of firefighters in fire apparatus and vehicles.”
- Dr. Christine Branche, Acting Director,National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Dr. Christine Branche of NIOSH said, “Motor vehicle-related crashes are the second leading cause of death for firefighters, and reducing this toll on our nation’s firefighters is a priority for NIOSH. Wearing seat belts is an essential component of efforts to ensure the safety of firefighters in fire apparatus and vehicles.”
For further information regarding this effort and to see which fire departments in your State have achieved 100% participation in the Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge Campaign, visit http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/goodbye.jsp?url=http://www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp. There you can access and download the pledge signature form, learn how to receive a 100% Certificate for your organization, read success stories, identify supporters, and receive additional campaign material.

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