WASHINGTON, D.C. — “Emergency Responders: Your Safety First,” a video for first response personnel receives its Washington premiere at Amtrak’s Union Station May 15 during Operation Lifesaver’s (OL) Congressional Appreciation Awards celebration at 6 p.m.
In addition, U.S. Reps. Jack Quinn (R-NY), who chairs the House Subcommittee on Railroads of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Bob Clement (D-TN), the Ranking Subcommittee Member, will be honored at the Operation Lifesaver Day event for their efforts on behalf of highway-rail and pedestrian safety nationwide. Chief Ernest (Ron) Frazier, Senior Vice President, Amtrak System Security and Safety, will be recognized for his role as former leader of the International Association of Railroad Police, representing OL’s partnership with the International Chiefs of Police.
“When responding to an urgent call, police, fire and EMS personnel can be tempted to ignore their own safety at highway-rail grade crossings in order to assist others in need,” Operation Lifesaver President Gerri Hall explains. “That is why we have developed a new video to assist in training first responders about safety around railroad tracks.”
Hall pointed out that 30 percent of Operation Lifesaver’s certified Presenters are law enforcement o officers, fire fighters or first responders. They speak on highway-rail grade crossing and pedestrian safety to community groups, schools and school bus drivers, 18-wheel truck drivers, community organizations and other groups.
Hall praised the efforts of Congressmen Quinn and Clement in recognizing the importance of public awareness about highway-rail crossing safety and pedestrian trespass prevention.
Over the past 30 years, Operation Lifesaver has assisted in reducing grade crossing fatalities by more than 70%. The Federal Highway Administration credits Operation Lifesaver with helping to save 11,000 lives and preventing 54,000 injuries at highway-rail grade crossings since 1972. However, the number of pedestrians killed while trespassing on railroad tracks and property is on the increase. Preliminary federal statistics for 2001 indicate a 9.1% increase in pedestrian trespasser deaths over 2000.
Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit, nationwide public education program dedicated to ending crashes, injuries and fatalities at intersections where roadways meet railways and along railroad rights-of-way.