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Driving Safety

 

Driving is one of the most hazardous things we do because we perform the task hundreds of times in the course of our daily lives. We tend to take it for granted. Based on recent accident trends, vehicle accidents are the source of more deaths and serious injuries to wildland firefighters than any other single cause.

  • To be a safe driver you have to want to be one. Take a good, hard look at your driving habits. Are you training yourself to do the right things the right way, like fastening your seat belt, checking your mirrors, and maintaining safe following distances?
  • Inattentiveness is a major contributing factor in motor vehicle accidents within the wildland firefighting community. Since the average adult attention span is 15 to 20 minutes, we must develop techniques that allow us to refocus our attention on our driving.
  • Many things can lure our attention away from our driving, such as fatigue, eating and drinking, reading directions and maps, writing, cell phone and radio use, conversation within the vehicle, and music.
    • Drive only when you are well-rested and alert, and avoid driving during the hours from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Take a 10- to 15-minute break after every 2 hours.
    • Practice situational awareness; be aware of what is happening in front, behind, and on both sides of your vehicle.
    • Never drive when taking medications that make you drowsy.
    • Delegate navigation and communication to a passenger, or pull over.
    • By constantly moving your vision, checking mirrors and distant road conditions, you can avoid highway hypnosis and daydreaming.
    • Avoid eating or drinking while driving.
    • When talking with passengers, keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the steering wheel. Avoid serious or argumentative conversations.
    • Switch off driving with others if multiple people are in the vehicle.
    • Do not be in a hurry; be patient.
  • Safe driving starts with a safe vehicle. Something as simple as underinflated tires can have serious consequences. Before operating any vehicle, do a walk-around to look for potential problems, make sure the lights and blinkers work, and adjust your seat and mirrors. If it is the first time you have driven the vehicle, make yourself aware of where everything is.

 

Category
Vehicles Roads
References
Engine Rollover: Lessons Learned Video
Road Learning
Fall 2012 Two More Chains: "Wings, Wheels, and Rotors"
2012 LLC Annual Incident Review Summaries: includes driving related content


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NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1 and NWCG Training Course Completion Certificate, PMS 921-1

Date: July 17, 2024
Contact: Training Delivery Committee 

The Training Delivery Committee (TDC) has updated the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1 to reflect changes in the standards for course management and delivery. These changes have been reviewed and approved by the members of TDC over the past year. Significant updates include additional delivery methods, updated definitions, and instructions for the use of digital signatures on training certificates. The NWCG Training Course Completion Certificate, PMS 921-1 has been updated to lock after an electronic signature has been applied.

References:

NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1

NWCG Training Course Completion Certificate, PMS 921-1

IBC Memo 24-01: OF 297 Signature Order and 2024 Fire Season Use IBC Memo 24-02: Summary of Changes for SIIBM, PMS 902

Date: July 15, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee 

The NWCG Incident Business Committee (IBC) has recently released two memorandums. The first provides direction on the use of the Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297 for the 2024 fire season. Due to delays in hard copy printing, both the 2024 revision and the older version of the Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297 are acceptable for use during the 2024 fire season.

The second memorandum documents the updates of the newly revised NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management (SIIBM), PMS 902. The summary of changes attached to the memo covers the major updates and process changes from the 2022 version.

References:

IBC Memorandum 24-01: OF 297 Signature Order and 2024 Fire Season Use

IBC Memorandum 24-02: Summary of Changes for the NWCG Standards of Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902

IBC Memorandum 24-02 Attachment: Summary of Changes

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

Date: July 10, 2024
Contact: Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee 

A new publication from the Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee is now available. The NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552 will be used as a guide and as an opportunity to begin to build out Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) modules for the remainder of Fire Year 2024. These standards will be fully implemented as the minimum standard starting in January 2025.

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support outlines the roles, duties, qualifications, and equipment pertinent to REMS. A REMS team, strategically stationed at wildland fires, plays a pivotal role in prioritizing swift access and medical treatment to injured or ill firefighters for safe and efficient egress off the fireline. This ensures their rapid transport to definitive medical care in cases of emergency during firefighting operations, highlighting the invaluable contribution of the REMS team to firefighter safety and well-being.

References:

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

National Wildland Firefighter Day

Date: July 2, 2024
Contact: National Interagency Fire Center 

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) would like to recognize July 2, 2024, as National Wildland Firefighter Day (NWFFD). Established in 2022, NWFFD honors the dedication of wildland firefighters and support personnel. This day falls within the 2024 Week of Remembrance (June 30 - July 6), providing an opportunity to renew our commitment to wildland firefighter safety while remembering those who have fallen in the line of duty.

NWCG continues to provide leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. NWCG standards and training establish common practices to contribute to safe, effective, and coordinated national interagency wildland fire operations.

References:

NWCG.gov

Week of Remembrance

National Wildland Firefighter Day