Tragedy Puts a Damper on the Holiday Spirit - Brian Martin

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Christmas week was not the way emergency service personnel wanted to end what was already a challenging year. On Monday, December 22, Michelle Smith, a Delaware City volunteer firefighter and the 30-year old mother of a 12-year old daughter, died from injuries sustained when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver while attending to a downed motorcyclist. Four days later, four adults and three children perished in a Philadelphia fire sparked by improper use of a kerosene heater. The group lived in a basement apartment with no smoke detectors and only one exit. We could easily rant about the individual who killed Michelle, but we trust justice will be done when he faces manslaughter charges. Similarly, we could talk about the likely code violations in the Philadelphia apartment, but presumably there will be the usual short-time, knee-jerk enforcement actions that follow every such event. Instead, let’s take the higher road and get behind what causes these very preventable tragedies. With respect to Michelle, you may be surprised to know that some of the most dangerous situations emergency personnel come up against are not from criminals or fires, but from inattentive motorists who drive past emergency scenes too fast or carelessly. The fact that even one responder’s life has been lost this way is tragic, but the statistics are much worse. In the U.S., being struck by a vehicle is the third leading cause of death for law enforcement officers! Delaware has revised its motor vehicle laws in an effort to provide additional safety for emergency personnel through “move over” provisions. Simply stated, a driver approaching stationary, authorized emergency vehicles that are displaying flashing emergency lights must: • If on a roadway of at least four lanes with at least two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the vehicle itself, make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency vehicles if safety and traffic conditions permit, or • If changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, proceed with caution and reduce speed to a safe speed while passing the emergency vehicles. While not specifically defined, “safe speed” is probably much less than the posted speed limit. Unfortunately, “move over” laws are not flawless. Many convicted drivers claim ignorance of the requirements. Less than ten states with such laws actively advertise them. In some states, fines are very low and are not much of a deterrent (Delaware’s is $25). Lastly, enforcement is challenging. Police officers handling emergencies are too busy doing their jobs and firefighters and EMTs have no enforcement authority. Thus, driver vigilance and common sense are critical to the safety of your emergency responders. Regarding Philadelphia, it wasn’t three months ago that we wrote to you about the very topic of kerosene heaters. Here’s what we said: “Finally, if you plan to buy a kerosene heater, check with your fire department to see if it is legal. If so, buy only UL listed units. Never fill your kerosene heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel as both flare up easily. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. Always fill outside and away from your home and never overfill. Use a kerosene heater only in a well- ventilated room.” “Working smoke alarms dramatically increase your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.” This fire started when an occupant tried to refill the heater with gasoline in the basement while it was ignited and then, having spilled the fuel, tried to move it when it unexpectedly exploded into flame in the only doorway. Using a fuel-burning heater in a confined space with no smoke detectors, using gasoline in a kerosene heater, pouring flammable liquid near an open flame and no escape plan or even means of escape if the sole exit was blocked-enough said. In balancing our everyday lives with our emergency responder roles, local volunteers and career public servants try to stay upbeat. We do what we do because we want to help people. When an emergency arises, we revel in providing service and in reducing or eliminating suffering or damage. But situations like these, test the fortitude of the most dedicated. We train hard because our lives and the lives of others depend on it. Please think long and hard, and especially encourage your younger loved ones to do the same, before doing something that leads to a preventable tragedy. At a funeral service Monday, the mother of the three children implored congregants, “Don’t let them die in vain.” Brian Martin is Fire Chief for the BBVFC, which he joined in 1997 after four years as a volunteer in the Philadelphia area. He is past deputy fire chief, a nationally certified firefighter II and was the BBVFC’s Firefighter of the Year in 2007. He lives in Ocean View with his wife, Jesika, a BBVFC member, and their two children and operates Martin Services LLC, a property management and home improvement firm, with his father, Jack, another member. He can be reached at [email protected].