As we all move toward the cold weather season, it is critical to renew our efforts to keep folks safe out on the roads of our nation. The pace of life seems to increase with each passing day. As we whiz through our tasks we sometimes lose sight of the need to operate in a safe manner. There are so many tasks and so little time to get them done: or so it would seem. We seem to have hit a snag with our highway safety film. We have switched to a DVD format as a cost-saving measure. Unfortunately, as we all know, DVD's appear to look just like CD's. Our original containers said that a DVD was enclosed. Apparently a great many went out in plain envelopes. Let me assure you that these DVD's work. However, you computer must have a DVD drive, or you will need to use a DVD player.

There have also been some technical issues with our on-line order form. The best way to explain it is that the software of our web host will not allow it to interact with some of your computers. It is apparently a technical issue that I am not qualified to discuss.

Members of the Emergency Response Institute have been hard at work. One group came together at the National Fire Academy to review the digital photos and digital video products which were created back in August in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Each went through a painstaking review to insure that it did in fact portray the best possible practices for the task being illustrated. We hope to have these available for you before too long.

There are many fine folks working to have an impact on highway safety issues. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through the United States Fire Administration (USFA) with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration, has initiated a partnership with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) on the research and development of effective technical guidance and training programs for fire and emergency service providers in Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMS).

This project will enhance responder safety and provide guidance to local-level fire departments on compliance with US Department of Transportation Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and soon to be released National Fire Service Incident Management System (IMS) Consortium Model Procedures Guide for Highway Incidents.

"Implementing an effective Traffic Incident Management System could have an impact on reducing the number of firefighters killed by being struck by vehicles while performing emergency operations," said Michael D. Brown, Homeland Security Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "FEMA and USFA are looking forward to working with the DOT and IFSTA to enhance the safety of firefighters and emergency responders."

R. David Paulison, U.S. Fire Administrator, emphasized that reducing the number of firefighters struck while operating on the roadway is an important initiative in supporting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Firefighter Line of Duty Death (LODD) Prevention Effort. We heartily concur with the assessment of these two fine, dedicated gentlemen.

We want you to know that we have had an important part in facilitating many of the issues involved in making these things happen. No one group can tackle a problem of the magnitude of these highway safety-related issues. It will take a dedicated team to see us through to the finish-line.

As the holiday season draws rapidly toward us, let me urge you to review your highway safety procedures. You and I both know that people will motoring along the highways and by-ways of our nation. They will be on their way to visit their family and friends, and it is entirely possible that they might not be paying attention to the hazards of the road ahead.

Take that extra measure of care to insure that all of your people return from each emergency run that you make. All of us here at Respondersafety.com and the Emergency Response Institute want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving.