Stand Down for Fire Fighter Safety Is June 21

June 14, 2006 – The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and 20 other fire service organizations are calling for the nation’s fire departments to observe a "Stand Down" for fire fighter safety beginning Wednesday, June 21, 2006, and continuing until all shifts have been completed. The IAFF is urging its affiliates and their fire departments to suspend all non-emergency activity and instead focus entirely on fire fighter safety. "Fire fighter death and injury rates continue to occur at a constant rate," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "Fire fighters work in a dangerous profession where injuries and death are a part of the job, but we can and must do more to reduce the risks. By holding this stand down, we will bring attention to the need to address preventable line-of-duty deaths and injuries among fire fighters."

This year's event will focus on emergency vehicle safety in particular. The IAFF has partnered with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to develop a comprehensive emergency vehicle safety program designed to give fire fighters a greater awareness of safety issues when riding on fire apparatus and operating at roadway emergency scenes. A DVD of the IAFF emergency vehicle safety program was sent to all IAFF affiliate presidents in early June.

Throughout the day on June 21, fire departments are asked to call attention to the unacceptable number of line-of-duty deaths and injuries across the nation and are encouraged to check all apparatus and equipment, discuss health and safety regulations, review fire ground safety issues and take stock of training exercises and fitness goals. Click here for a recommended activity schedule for the 2006 International Fire Fighter Safety Stand Down. Additional information is also available on the IAFC web site.

Click here for a sample press release that IAFF affiliates can customize to promote their local’s participation in the Safety Stand Down. 

Other ways you can help:

·       Include information on the Stand Down on your local web site and in your affiliate publications.
·       Report your local’s Stand Down activities to the IAFF. Email pr@iaff.org.

"We hope that during this Safety Stand Down, labor and management will work together nationwide to address fire fighter health and safety and help stop the rise in line-of-duty deaths and injuries," says Schaitberger.