Departments Respond to Safety Stand Down

Photo Jamie Thompson Firefighters from San Francisco’s Station 7 take part in a drill Monday for the third annual Stand Down.

Kyle Robert Wilson was known as a firefighter who “gave his all.”

The 24-year-old member of Prince William County, Va., Fire Department died searching for residents in a burning home in April — the department’s first ever line of duty death.

For departments like his, this week’s Safety Stand Down, which officially began Sunday, carries extra meaning.

More than 10,000 departments across the United States and Canada are staging events focused on raising safety awareness among firefighters, ranging from competitions and drills to formal discussions. It is also being used by many departments as a way to honor and learn from those who have fallen in the line of duty.

‘Heightened awareness’
“An LODD definitely heightens everyone’s awareness of the potential dangers,” said Prince William County Fire Lieutenant Steve Yannarell, who coordinated the department’s Safety Stand Down program.

He spent the past few weeks putting together the program, which was sent to hundreds of firefighters and chiefs at the combination department.

This year’s theme, “Ready to Respond,” focuses on two areas: equipment readiness and personal readiness.

“With equipment readiness, we have looked at it from the standpoint of every shift that comes on duty has to address the equipment readiness issues,” said Yannarell.

The personal readiness component, he said, reminds members of the need to take fitness and mental health seriously.

For last year’s Safety Stand Down, the department launched a special fitness challenge for members, which is being continued this time around.

It has firefighters in each crew take part in a series of training ground tasks, as quickly and as safely as they can.

Each crew’s average time is calculated, with the overall winner being awarded the Stand Down Challenge Trophy.

“It’s excellent for teambuilding, and it gives the guys the opportunity to test their own fitness level,” said Yannarell.

“For those who end up feeling that they are not as fit they once were, it might help motivate them to work on things.”

A range of Stand Down-related activities are also taking place through Saturday at San Francisco Fire Department’s 48 stations.

During a drill at Station 7 Monday morning, supervisors took a backseat and let firefighters lead the safety drill to improve their all-round awareness and understand the demands and challenges safety officers face.

Lieutenant Mark Kane told them it’s vital they take responsibility for their own safety on the fireground.

“Try to take care of yourself — don’t assume someone is going to take care of you,” he said.

Lieutenant Ken Smith said during the Safety Stand Down, the department will try to stress the need for members to “slow down.”

Photo courtesy of Saudi Aramco Members of the Yanbu Refinery Fire Control Unit conduct inspections of hydraulic rescue tools during Saudi Aramco Fire Protection Department’s recent Safety Stand Down.

“It need only be for a few seconds, just to think what you are doing now and what is going to happen next,” he said.

One of the big benefits of the event, said Smith, is that it allows firefighters to talk about safety issues — a discussion engaged in too rarely in many departments.

“It allows us to step back and talk about things,” he said. “We go into a building and save people all the time, but we don’t talk about it and what happened. This allows all of us to take a proactive approach to safety, not just for the week but to carry it on in the future.”

SFFD Chief Joanne Hayes-White said a vital part of the initiative is that it allows firefighters to honor fallen brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Sometimes we need to be reminded that if we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be able to take care of others,” she added. “This occupation is inherently dangerous, but there are things we can do to reduce the odds of being injured.”

Worldwide impact
The safety message of the Stand Down is extending beyond North America to places as far as Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Aramco Fire Protection Department is a career fire department providing fire protection throughout Saudi Arabia for oil corporation Saudi Aramco’s industrial facilities, residential communities, airstrips, corporate headquarters and other support sites. It consists primarily of Saudi nationals who are trained to international firefighting and rescue standards.

During the Safety Stand Down, the department is placing particular emphasis on emergency vehicle operations and will also cover all aspects of preparing for an emergency response.

“This program is in line with our overall safety program and will enhance the safety of our routine and emergency operations, especially our emergency vehicle operations,” said Ali Mokhtar, Saudi Aramco Fire Protection Department manager, of the Stand Down.

IAFC President Jim Harmes said he is pleased at the response to this year’s event.

“Departments around the world recognize the need to focus on safety in fire and EMS departments, and they recognize that the Safety Stand Down is one way to sharpen that focus,” he said.