Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility June 14-20, 2009

Protect Yourself:
Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility encourages chiefs and fire/EMS personnel to focus on what they personally can do to manage risk and enhance their health and safety.

This year’s theme reflects the need for personal responsibility and accountability within a strong safety culture.

Recommended activities and materials will incorporate four key areas where standard operating procedures, policies and initiatives—along with the training and enforcement that support them—can limit fire/EMS personnel’s risk of injury or death:

Safety:
Emergency Driving (enough is enough—end senseless death)
Lower speeds—stop racing to the scene. Drive safely and arrive alive to help others.
Utilize seat belts—never drive or ride without them.
Stop at every intersection—look in all directions and then proceed in a safe manner.
Health: Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education and Prevention
Don't smoke or use tobacco products.
Get active.
Eat a heart-healthy diet.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Get regular health screenings.

Survival:
Structural Size-Up and Situational Awareness
Keep apprised of different types of building materials and construction used in your community.
Develop a comprehensive size-up checklist.
Always complete a 360° walk of the structure to collect valuable, operational decision-making information.
Learn the practice of reading smoke.
Be familiar with the accepted rules of engagement.
Learn your accountability system and use it.
Master your tools and equipment.
Remain calm and concentrate.

Chiefs: Be the Leader in Safety
Become personally engaged in safety and make it part of your strategic vision for the department.
Be willing to make the tough decisions regarding safety policies and practices and their implementation.
Hold members of the organization accountable for their safety and the safety of those with whom they work.
Ensure that resources are available to accomplish activities safely and effectively.

The IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section encourage all fire/EMS departments to devote this week to reviewing safety policies, evaluating the progress of existing initiatives and discussing health and fitness. Fire/EMS departments should make a concerted effort during the week to correct safety deficiencies and to provide training as needed. An entire week is provided to ensure that each shift and volunteer duty crew can spend one day focusing on fire fighter safety, health and survival.

EMS General Operations
Fire General Operations
Firefighter Survival 2009 key area
Health and Wellness 2009 key area
ICS/Accountability
Near-Miss Includes 2009 key area: Resources for chiefs
Vehicle Safety 2009 key area
Wildland
Planning resources
IAFC Safety, Health and Survival section Web Page
Near Miss Reporting Systems, HERE
Everyone Goes Home, HERE



Look for postings the entire week here on FFN supporting Safety Week....It's a great time to start really thinking about safety and what role YOU play in it...