Fireman's Fund encourages fire departments to plan to take part in this year's International Safety Stand Down, which will run the week of June 17th through the 23rd. This year's is the third International Firefighter Safety Stand Down, which is sponsored by over 20 fire service organizations, including the IAFF, the IAFC and the IAFC's VCOS. Fire departments across the country, and the world, are being encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activity during the stand down, and instead focus on reviewing safety procedures for firefighter safety.
The IAFC estimates that more than 10,000 departments participated in the 2006 Stand Down, which focused on emergency vehicle safety. About a quarter of line-of-duty deaths occur in transit and thousands more firefighters are injured in emergency vehicle accidents each year. Too many of these deaths and injuries are preventable (see sidebar).
IAFC President Jim Harmes urges departments to take part: "Sadly, 106 firefighters died in the line of duty last year. Use the Stand Down to keep the focus on the safety and well-being of our firefighters." The theme of this year's Stand Down is "Ready to Respond." Suggested activities and drills will focus on what should occur before an emergency call ever comes in, namely proper training, preparation and equipage. The IAFC will make resources and information available on its Web site
to help your department plan activites, including drills and a planning guide.
How to Participate
You can sign up to receive more information at the IAFC Web site.
Is your fire department joining the thousands of others across the country that will be taking part in the Stand Down? If your department does not yet have plans, now is a good time to make them. Talk to your chief, union president or volunteer leadership.
The Seat Belt Pledge
Dr. Burton Clark continues to champion a simple but powerful cause — seat belt use by firefighters. Not every transit LODD can be prevented with a simple seatbelt, but tragically, many can. Dr. Clark has dedicated a national Seat Belt Pledge (pdf) to Brian Hunton, who sufferes a fatal fall from his ladder truck on a sharp turn as it responded to a fire in 2005. To date, Dr. Clark has collected over 10,000 signatures. You can download and sign the pledge today; then share it with your department.
