Nearly once every week, a first responder is killed while
responding to an emergency roadway accident.
November 13, 2023 Press Release from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF): This week (November 13-17, 2023) is Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW), and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is urging the public to use extreme caution while driving near traffic accidents.
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Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, this initiative is designed to raise public awareness and help keep fire fighters, other first responders, and the public safe.
Fire fighters and paramedics work tirelessly to save lives at traffic incident scenes as swiftly and safely as possible. Too often, this dangerous work leads to tragedy, claiming the life of nearly one first responder each week in the United States. Many more sustain life-altering injuries while responding to traffic accidents.
The IAFF is urging the citizens they serve to do their part to protect themselves and responders by slowing down, moving over, and staying alert when approaching traffic incidents.
“Fire fighters and other emergency responders are the first on the scene to road all accidents, risking their safety to provide life-saving care. We ask the public to do their part by using extra caution and care around all traffic incidents,” says IAFF General President Edward Kelly.
Responders are also encouraged to stay updated on best practices for staying safe. This weeklong national event promotes Slow Down, Move Over law awareness for motorists and free Traffic Incident Management (TIM) training for responders.
