#1stresponders... Let's Get Visible!!!

By Sgt. Mark St. Hilaire

You may have noticed in the recent years that many first responders are wearing reflective gear when they are responding to service calls along roadways.

But you are not one of them.  Why not?  Are you invincible, acting reckless or ignorant?

In all fairness, you didn't know. I get it.

Wearing proper equipment, following established work guidelines and safety are another key component in our health and wellness.

Whether you work as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, E.M.S., public works laborer-operator, tow operator or anyone who has to work by a roadway, this effects your safety.

In 2008, a federal regulation went into effect basically requiring that public safety members are required like construction personnel working on the right of way of a federal aid highway to wear reflective outerwear or a vest which meets the ANSI/ISEA 107 class 2 or 3 classifications.

In short, so the public we serve will be able to see YOU during the daylight, nighttime or poor weather environment.  Are you visible?

More first responders are injured or have died due to a collision with vehicles on all our roadways whether an interstate highway, a city street or a rural roadway.  We are at a high risk when we are working in the roadways.

Many vehicle operators are distracted today so wear the gear and stay alert!

Wearing the safety gear is a key part of the prevention along with emergency vehicle positioning, warning signage and other safety devices.  Some of the best practices have recommended that personnel (human beings) should be in a much different high-visible outerwear color than the color of reflective traffic devices such as barrels, cones and signage which are usually orange. 

Emergency spot lamp lighting and using flashlights with a colorful attachment is very important especially at night for traffic control duties.

The safety vests designed today meet many of these safety requirements. When you are receiving one, please ensure the vest is designed to quickly detach and breakaway if it becomes caught up on a vehicle, machinery or if someone grabs onto it.

Your agency should provide this safety gear and develop roadway safety guidelines for all personnel to follow.  Invest in your own safety and buy one if it is not provided.

I am asking you as a public safety professional to store and maintain this reflective gear with you at all times.  It only takes a moment to place these items on when you come upon a service call whether it is day, night or anytime the outside environment visibility is poor.

As a side note suggestion: During large public events whether inside or out, wearing a high visible vest or outerwear makes it easy for the public to locate you for assistance if needed.

Check out: www.respondersafety.com for safety recommendations.

Sgt. Mark St.Hilaire is a 30 year veteran police officer working in a busy metro west suburb of Boston, Mass.  He is a volunteer police peer for a regional CISM team.  He is passionate about public safety health and wellness.  He has presented at ILEETA, conferences and in-service training.  You can contact him confidentially at mark@rescueteamwellness.com.

Follow Mark on Twitter: @NPD3306 or on Linked-In.