National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: Seat Belt Pledge

October 8, 2026

Did you know?:

• Wearing seat belts reduces death/injury potential by 50%. 
• 10-20% of firefighter LODDs are the result of vehicle crashes. 
• The second leading cause of firefighter LODDs is vehicle crashes. 
• Approximately 500 firefighters are involved in a fatal crash each year.

If your department has not signed the International First Responder Seatbelt Pledge, we encourage you to take a moment to sign it.

According to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, "In 2006, the National Fire Service Seatbelt Pledge was created, after the tragic death of Firefighter Brian Hunton who died after falling from his fire truck on the way to a call." 

"Motor vehicle crashes are the second-leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States and this effort aims to reduce the number of preventable fatalities. Just as you need to get to the scene of a call quickly, you need to get there safely; buckling your seatbelt is the easiest safety measure you can take." - Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki, Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Learn more and sign the pledge here.