"Creating a Culture of Safety" has been named as the theme for this year's International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) ask that all non-emergency activity time is spent focusing on topics related to the theme. This year's event runs from June 14 - 20.

“Creating a culture of safety in our departments and communities is the first step to effectively protecting life and property,” said IAFC President G. Keith Bryant. “I encourage chiefs, chief officers and everyone in the fire and emergency service to fully embrace and participate this year in International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week.”

Creating a Culture of Safety emphasizes both the need to change attitudes and behaviors to foster an environment that embraces safety and the need to proactively reduce risk. The entire fire and emergency service community can work together to eliminate preventable tragedy and minimize the immediate and long-term risks of emergency response.

There are three areas that to focus on in June:

• Community: The best fire is one that never happens. Creating a culture of safety within the community—where codes are enforced, fire sprinklers are utilized and risks are reduced—will lead to fewer fires and fewer calls for fire response. This in turn reduces risk to firefighters and EMTs from vehicle crashes during response, exposure to toxins that can cause cancer and other illnesses, and dangerous working conditions resulting from large fires.
• Department: Creating a culture of safety within the department is critical to protecting personnel. Changing the department culture starts with leadership. Policies and procedures that advance safety must be implemented and enforced, safe and healthy practices should be accepted by and expected of personnel, and safety should be a critical component of all training and all fireground and vehicle operations.
• Individual: Personal accountability is a key component of keeping firefighters and emergency responders safe. Each individual must take responsibility for following SOPs and SOGs, prioritizing safety and health and lessening their own risks. This includes proper use and maintenance of PPE to prevent exposure and reduce cancer risks, managing heart health through fitness and nutrition, and seeking help if experiencing behavioral health issues.

“Creating a culture of safety will result in fewer fatalities, injuries and illnesses, resulting in a stronger, more resilient fire and emergency service,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “I strongly encourage all fire and emergency service departments and personnel to use the 2015 Safety and Health Week to focus on what they can do to make health and safety a priority at the community, department and individual levels. Together, we can achieve culture change and reduce the risks our responders face.”

You can find more at: SafetyAndHealthWeek.org.

								To Kolb