ASHI and MEDIC First Aid Blog

“Be Aware – Get Checked” is the theme of this year’s Firefighter Safety Stand Down, which takes place June 17-23, 2018.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Volunteer Fire Council created the Firefighter Safety Stand Down Week to:

[H]ighlight critical safety, health, and survival issues for the fire and emergency services. All departments and personnel are asked to take the week of June 17-23 to focus their attention on safety and health education and training. A week is provided to ensure all duty shifts can participate.

This year’s theme is BE AWARE – GET CHECKED. Firefighters face many risks such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, PTSD, and more, and early detection through annual medical evaluations and physicals saves lives.

The goal of [the IAFC and NVFC] is to reduce the number of preventable injuries and deaths in the fire and emergency services. Safety Stand Down focuses on the critical importance of responders taking care of themselves both on and off the emergency incident scene. The week is designed to increase awareness and action so that safety and health become a priority in all fire and emergency service departments.

Safetystanddown.org offers resources, posters and activity ideas for agencies to use as they plan their own Stand Down activities.

Be sure to add responder wellness to the safety training plan at your agency. HSI companies 24-7 EMS and 24-7 Fire offer online training courses to help first responders take care of themselves as well as their communities. These professionally produced, award-winning videos featuring nationally noted EMS and fire service subject matter experts, all delivered through 24-7’s comprehensive, easy-to-use learning management system.

24-7 EMS Featured Course
Emergency Responders, Firefighters and Cancer

Research has shown that firefighters are experiencing multiple types of cancer at a greater rate than the general population in the United States through the occupational exposure to certain materials. Emergency Responders, Firefighters and Cancer raises awareness and examines the increased risks of cancer for firefighters and the general steps that need to be taken for protection and prevention. We invite you to share the preview of this CE course, Smoke Alarms, at your Stand Down event to educate your team on these significant health threats. 24-7 EMS collaborated with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) to bring you this program.

For more on all the courses in the comprehensive 24-7 libraries, click the button below.