Working to Better Protect Crash Site Responders, APWA Joins National ‘Crash Responder Safety Week’ Campaign
Washington D.C.—When cars collide, public works and other emergency first responders rush to help but often put their own lives in jeopardy, which is why the American Public Works Association is joining national “Crash Responder Safety Week,” Nov. 8-14.
“Nearly every week, a first responder is killed when helping to clear a stalled vehicle, a crash site, or other roadway incident,” said APWA President Stan Brown. “And, hundreds of other first responders suffer life-altering injuries while working to help save lives and keep our roadways safe.”
As a member of the Crash Responder Safety Week Planning Committee, APWA is one of several partner organizations working with the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Incident Management program to observe Crash Responder Safety Week.
CRSW, formerly “National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week,” is a perennial campaign to raise awareness about the critical role incident and first responders play in keeping our nation’s roads safe from crashes, and for motorists to remember the role they play in the safety of those supporting incident management.
The Federal Highway Administration offers free traffic incident management training, which APWA’s Brown is encouraging all public works professionals as first responders to complete.
“It may save your life and the lives of friends and people you love,” Brown said.
The American Public Works Association serves over 30,000 professionals in all aspects of public works who plan, design, build, maintain, operate, and oversee the country’s vast infrastructure networks. APWA’s members include employees from local, county, state/province, and federal agencies, and private sector personnel who supply products and services to those professionals. APWA membership is open to any individual, agency, or corporation with an interest in public works and infrastructure issues.
For more information about APWA, visit www.apwa.net
