Activity Schedule and Resources
Developed for 2006 Stand Down
Available at www.iafc.org/standdown
FAIRFAX, Va. — A recommended activity schedule for the 2006 International Fire Fighter Safety Stand Down has been developed and is posted online at www.iafc.org/standdown. The Fire Fighter Safety Stand Down, scheduled to start June 21 and continue until all personnel and duty nights have been covered, is sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the IAFC’s Volunteer and Combination Officers’ Section in partnership with nearly 20 national fire service organizations.
The activity schedule includes suggestions for drills; topics for discussion; vehicle and equipment safety checks; healthy meals; and physical activities.
Also posted on www.iafc.org/standdown are a number of fire fighter safety resources on emergency vehicle safety, including:
- Training and drill topics
- Accident reports
- SOPs/SOGs
- Articles
- Posters and handouts
- Links to vehicle safety programs such as the IAFF Emergency Vehicle Safety Program (www.iaff.org/evsp), the USFA Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative (www.usfa.fema.gov/research/safety/vehicle.shtm), and the NVFC Emergency Vehicle Safe Operating Program (www.nvfc.org/evsp/index.html).
The activity schedule and resources were developed by the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival Section and the IAFF Department of Occupational Safety, Health and Medicine.
The 2006 Stand Down sponsors and partners urge all fire departments in the United States and Canada to suspend all non-emergency activity and instead focus entirely on fire fighter safety. This year’s Stand Down will focus on emergency vehicle safety, including seatbelt usage and safe driving through intersections.
“Sadly, 106 fire fighters died in the line of duty last year. Many of the accidents occurred in department vehicles,” says IAFC President Chief Bill Killen. “We want to focus on areas of safety where we can have the most impact.”
“We must take dramatic steps to reduce the fire fighter death and injury rates,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “While fire fighter safety must be part of everyday life in the fire service, the Safety Stand Down raises awareness of the issue and calls international attention to the unacceptable number of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths.”
“Every day, fire fighters handle dangerous situations. We must make significant changes to our culture to prevent future deaths and injuries and reinforce the message of safety in everything we do. Ask yourself each day, ‘What can I do to promote safety?’ And then do it,” said Chief Timothy Wall, chair of the IAFC’s Volunteer and Combination Officers’ Section.
Stand Down Sponsors:
International Association of Fire Chiefs
International Association of Fire Fighters
IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers’ Section
Stand Down Partners (as of May 24, 2006):
National Fire Protection Association
Fire Department Safety Officers Association
U.S. Fire Administration
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
National Volunteer Fire Council
International Fire Service Training Association
International Association of Arson Investigators
National Association of State Fire Marshals
North American Fire Training Directors
Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
Congressional Fire Services Institute
Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association
Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association
International Code Council
International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters
Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation
National Association of State Foresters
National Association of Hispanic Firefighters
National Native American Fire Chiefs Association
The Stand Down Activities and Materials are Coordinated by:
IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section
IAFF Department of Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine