News

The Third Annual Fire and EMS Stand Down will take place during the week of June 17-23. This year’s theme, “Ready to Respond,” focuses on the proper training, preparation, and equipment necessary to answer a call and return safely. The Stand Down has an expanded schedule this year to provide departments with maximum flexibility for participating in the exercise, including weekend opportunities to better accommodate volunteers.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) urges every fire and EMS department to participate in the Stand Down by suspending all non-emergency activity in order to focus entirely on firefighter and EMS safety until all shifts and personnel have taken part. The NVFC joins the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and other emergency service organizations in encouraging participation in this event.

“Firefighter and EMS personnel health and safety must remain a top priority, and the Stand Down offers a way to garner increased attention to this critical issue,” said Maggie Wilson, Director of Health and Safety for the NVFC. “The NVFC continues to work towards decreasing the number of line-of-duty deaths through programs such as the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, the Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative, and the Emergent Health and Safety Issues Project. I hope all departments use the Stand Down as an opportunity to address important health and safety issues and move this critical topic to the center of focus.”

For more information regarding the Stand Down and related activities, visit www.iafc.org/standdown.