Safety Institute Addresses Ways to Keep Emergency Responders Safe

One emergency responder was killed and nine others injured by a tractor-trailer crashing into the accident scene when they were responding to a minor car accident at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Downingtown Interchange in 1998. After that incident, officials realized how dangerous the work areas of those emergency responders are. The Emergency Responder Safety Institute suggested many ways to keep emergency responders safe, which include training, using high-visibility personal protective equipment, enforcing Slow Down/Move Over laws, positioning emergency vehicles to act as barriers, and most importantly, effective cooperation and communication.