Fall from a moving apparatus?

[JoeMZ191]

Wishing him a speedy recovery. Anyone have any more details on this? It looks bad on the surface but I only know what was printed on a news page.



Chapel Oaks firefighter in stable condition after falling off responding engine.
A Prince George's County volunteer firefighter is in stable condition after falling from a fire engine Sunday on its way to a house fire, county fire officials said.

The firefighter is a 20-year-old volunteer firefighter from Chapel Oaks with the Chapel Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, said Denice Dickens, a fire battalion chief for the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department. The man's name is not being released per the family's request.

The man was riding in the back bucket in the inside of an engine responding to a house fire in Temple Hills about 2 p.m. Sunday when he fell from the moving vehicle at 60th Avenue and Addison Road in Seat Pleasant, Dickens said. He suffered facial injuries and broken bones.

The cause of the fall is under investigation, Dickens said. He was taken to Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, where he remains in stable condition.

[nmfire]

The news media account is obviously AFU as usual. Riding in a bucket in the back of an engine? I too am curious what actually happened. I doubt it will be anything more acceptable or logical. But I would like the facts first.

[DeputyMarshal]

The news media account is obviously AFU as usual.

It's the same wire clip I've read everywhere else. I can't find any other detail.

Wherever he was riding, where was the seatbelt?

[hwoods]

And........

I am not in a position to comment for the Record, but I will try to find an "Official" News Release or something without the "Media" embellishments.....

[nmfire]

This is from the Chapel Oak's web site. Sounds like he was in the cab and the door came open. Sounds like he is doing well all things concidered. Obviously not wearing a seatbelt. I bet he will from now on.

This exact thing happened to me when I was a 17yr old explorer, as I've spoken about on here many times. I caught myself and the driver pulled me back in but I was hanging out the door face to face with a turning tire. I never blew off the seatbelt ever again.

http://www.chapeloaksfire.com/fullstory.php?118905

Chapel Oaks Member Injuried While Responding on a call
While responding to a reported house fire, Volunteer Firefighter Antonie Hawkins was thrown out of the engine after a door malfunction suffering serious injuries to his face hands and shoulder. F/F Hawkins was transported to PG Hospital were he's listed in stable condition. Read more

Update October 11, 2010: F/F Hawkins is up and walking around with the assistance of a cane. We expect him to be transferred to a rehab facility tomorrow for as additional treatment!

Antonie expressed that he wanted to thank all of you for your visits, prayers and words of of encouragement.

[Leeland]

I wish him a full recovery. (That's all that needs to be said.)

[nmfire]

I wish him a full recovery. (That's all that needs to be said.)

It's not all that needs to be said. It's clearly the most important. But if we just ignore the things that keep killing and injuring us, they will keep killing and injuring us. We shouldn't ignore our brother that is hurt, but it would be in vain if we ignore how he got hurt and pretend it didn't happen.

[Leeland]

It's not all that needs to be said. It's clearly the most important. But if we just ignore the things that keep killing and injuring us, they will keep killing and injuring us. We shouldn't ignore our brother that is hurt, but it would be in vain if we ignore how he got hurt and pretend it didn't happen.

I had no intention of getting dragged into this. But do we know all the details? All we do know at this time is that the door on the rig opened while the rig was in motion and he fell off the rig. I'm not hiding or pretending that it didn't happen but we do not know all the details and that is why I said "That's all that needs to be said."

[Catch22]

I've seen a couple of stories on this from firefighterclosecalls.com and statter911.com, as well as some others.

From what I've seen, the rig in question has a latching mechanism that's designed to open the door when it's pulled up. However, there's a stop that keeps it from opening when pushed down that has a problem with being overpowered. Apparently this isn't the first time they've had this problem with these rigs and it's recurring.

While I hope the guy recovers and is able to return, it definitely addresses the importance of seatbelts.

[Georgetown18]

it definitely addresses the importance of seatbelts.

WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS!!!! Its another 30 seconds of donning and doffing if you're slow...

[Blulakr]

I hope this firefighter fully recovers and is back to work soon.

We changed our SOG's for this reason. All firefighters (except the driver) don jacket and pants before boarding the rig. This lessens the temptation to leave one's seatbelt off to dress enroute. The driver may leave their jacket off to make driving easier.

When driving, before releasing the brake I always verify that everyone is secure. It's also up to everyone to police themselves and to not allow someone to not be belted.

[nameless]

It's not all that needs to be said. It's clearly the most important. But if we just ignore the things that keep killing and injuring us, they will keep killing and injuring us. We shouldn't ignore our brother that is hurt, but it would be in vain if we ignore how he got hurt and pretend it didn't happen.

you're right, we need better designed door and latch systems.

[nmfire]

you're right, we need better designed door and latch systems.

Is that your sarcastic way of saying that we don't need seatbelts? You should just come out and say it rather than being a smart *** about something it is causing more FF deaths than fire.

[nameless]

Is that your sarcastic way of saying that we don't need seatbelts? You should just come out and say it rather than being a smart *** about something it is causing more FF deaths than fire.

assuming this firefighter didn't have his seatbelt on, this accident had to parts. The door coming open and his lack of seatbelt (again an assumption). The doors of apparatus fly open a lot, maybe something should be done about that. It wouldn't be a stretch to say there might be something wrong with fire truck doors if the doors are flying open so often. If the door never came ajar, he never would have fallen out. Perhaps you shouldn't have such a myopic view of these incidents.


I never said we don't need seatbelts, but I think its funny given the risks of the job. We find it unacceptable to have the seatbelt off for the 30 seconds it takes to button your coat/put on your scba straps.

[nmfire]

Right. So in other words, lets dodge the real problem and blame it on a door instead.