(Washington, DC)   DC Fire and EMS Chief Dennis L. Rubin joined Home Safety Council President Meri-K Appy and US Fire Administration Deputy Assistant Administrator Charlie Dickinson today to begin the National Fire Service Seatbelt Pledge. 

This program was created because vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths, and not wearing seat belts is the number one safety concern in the fire service. These two issues have resulted in 12 firefighter line-of-duty-deaths in 2007 so far. This seat belt campaign supports the Everyone Goes Home firefighter life safety initiatives (www.everyonegoeshome.com).

More than 40,000 firefighters nationwide have taken the pledge, and more than 80 fire departments have achieved 100% participation and will receive a national certificate sponsored by the US Fire Administration, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire Protection Association, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.  For more information on this initiative, go to www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp.

As part of the program, Dickinson presented to Chief Rubin a check for $376,000 to expand the department’s driver training  The money, a grant from FEMA, will be used for an ambulance driving simulator to accompany the department’s fire truck simulator that is already in use.

“There can be no higher priority than the safety of our firefighters,” said Chief Rubin.  “This department is completely committed to this effort.”