The primary task for those of us who labor in the vineyards of highway safety involves education. Secondary to this is the sharing of information about what is happening in the world. In line with this, we frequently share bad news with you. It is our hope that the lessons learned through other people's misfortune can make a difference. So it is that I am pleased to share some good news with you. There is a place where the seeds spread by our good efforts have landed on fertile soil. I learned of this positive lesson through Jack Sullivan, our Director of Training for the Emergency Response Safety Institute.
Jack has done a great deal of training in a wide variety of venues. One of his favorite groups is the fire department in Horry County, South Carolina. These fine folks are charged with protecting an area which surrounds Myrtle Beach. Todd Cartner, Public Information Officer, Horry County Fire Rescue sent us the following report.
Recently they had a real close call. A group of their members experienced a struck-by incident on October 11, 2005. While there was damage to their apparatus, no fire department personnel were injured. They attribute this to their emphasis on safe roadway operations.
Members of the fire department responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a moped. While they were operating on scene, their engine was struck by a Chevy 1500 traveling at highway speed. The engine had been positioned to protect the scene and it did the job.
At the time of the initial response it was raining slightly. The time of the secondary incident was 23:00. The striking driver was charged with DUI, and it was estimated that the striking vehicle speed was 50+ MPH. Traffic cones were in place and there was a traffic light approximately 40 feet prior to Engine 7. Members of the department are unsure as to the status of the traffic signal at time of secondary incident.
Crews were on scene initially about 15 minutes before the secondary incident occurred. Engine 7 was operating with two crew members. Medic 7 was operating with 2 crew members. There was also 1 volunteer firefighter on scene. There was 1 patient from the initial moped accident and two people who refused treatment from the minivan.
For the secondary incident, a Battalion Chief, EMS Supervisor, Public Information Officer and Ladder 7 (two personnel) responded. A second engine from North Myrtle Beach Fire Department (Engine 731 with two personnel) was summoned for a second set of extrication equipment to remove the driver of the striking vehicle. No Fire/Rescue personnel were injured in the secondary crash.
I think that it is extremely important to point out that training played a part in the positive outcome experienced at this incident. The fire department is a proactive proponent of highway safety training. Under the guidance of Chief Garry Alderman, Horry County Fire/Rescue makes highway safety operations a regular part of their training syllabus.
As an additional point of interest the Battalion Chief, Engine 7, Ladder 7 and Medic 7 all participated in a highway safety training exercise earlier on the day of the incident. Their drill involved the proper placement of apparatus at a highway incident scene.
Talk about having the right drill on the right day. A tip of the helmet is in order for the Horry County (SC) Fire/Rescue Department. It is my dream that stories such as this will become a regular part of our publishing process. We need more positive outcomes and less death and injury stories.
As we move into the late fall season, let us prepare for the longer hours of darkness and the worsening weather that comes with the beginning of winter. You can't do anything about the weather, but you sure as heck can do something about preparing for it.
Drill on how to set up highway safety corridors. Our "Ten Cones" DVD makes an excellent tool for you to train your troops. Be sure that everyone has a proper high-visibility vest and knows how to use it. Insure that your people know how to operate safely on the roadways of our nation.
Take care and stay safe.
