North Lenoir Fire & Rescue asks for your help during Crash Responder Safety Week
Nearly every week, a first responder is killed while attempting to clear a traffic incident in the United States.
As part of Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW), Nov. 14-18, North Lenoir Fire & Rescue is highlighting the critical role each of us plays in keeping responders safe as they work to assist motorists and keep our roads clear.
“Roadside incidents are among the most dangerous emergency calls we respond to,” says Chris Decker, North Lenoir Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer. “Our members work tirelessly to save lives at traffic incident scenes as safely and quickly as possible. But we need motorists to do their part to protect responders by slowing down, moving over, and staying alert when approaching traffic incidents.”
When responding to motor vehicle collisions, North Lenoir Fire & Rescue works with emergency medical personnel, law enforcement officers, towing and recovery companies, and public works to safely clear incidents. On any given day, approximately 50,000 traffic incident responders work on or near roads in the United States to provide emergency response and patient care, and to restore safe travel after traffic incidents.
Throughout Crash Responder Safety Week, the Federal Highway Administration collaborates with national partners, states, and local responders to reduce the number of traffic incident responders injured or killed in the line of duty.
This national event includes the promotion of state “Slow Down, Move Over” laws for motorists and free Traffic Incident Management (TIM) training for responders:
When passing an incident scene, motorists are asked to slow down and, if possible, move over into an adjacent lane to provide a protective buffer for responders and the motorists behind them.
Local responders are encouraged to take the free National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder training from the FHWA to stay updated on best practices: http://bitly.com/TIMtrain. More than 600,000 responders have been trained to date through free in-person, online instructor-led, or online self-paced courses.
North Lenoir Volunteer Fire & Rescue is responsible for providing fire protection and emergency response to more than 8,900 residents and a variety of commercial properties and manufacturing facilities in a 53 square-mile district in northern Lenoir County. The department consists of 3 stations, 13 apparatus, and more than 50 volunteer members that respond to approximately 400 requests for assistance per year.