TO: All Sworn, Civilian, and Volunteer Personnel Memo #15-25
FROM: Marc S. Bashoor, Fire Chief
RE: 2015 International Fire/EMS Safety & Health Week
FROM: Marc S. Bashoor, Fire Chief
RE: 2015 International Fire/EMS Safety & Health Week
2015 International Fire/EMS Safety & Health Week
Beginning June 14, 2015, and continuing through June 20, 2015, the Prince George’s
County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department will participate in the 2015
International Fire/EMS Safety & Health Week (Safety Week). An entire week is provided to
ensure that each shift and each crew can spend one day focusing on firefighter safety, health, and
survival. We should focus on safety year round; however, Safety Week is a great opportunity for
chiefs, company officers, firefighters, and paramedics, sworn and volunteer, to work together to
manage risk and enhance their health and safety.
This military style “stand down” is designed to raise the level of awareness toward firefighter and EMS personnel safety, and call attention to the high volume of preventable deaths and injuries plaguing the Fire/EMS service. All non-emergency activities should be suspended in order to provide an opportunity for personnel to review and reflect on the requirements of the profession, and what we can do individually and collectively to ensure one another’s health and safety. All personnel are directed to participate in this important endeavor to help ensure that “Everyone Goes Home.”
This year’s Safety Week will focus on the importance of creating a Culture of
Safety. Members of the Department are encouraged to use this week to focus on safety and health training and what you can do to create a culture of safety within your community, your department, your crew, and yourself.
This year ALL personnel will be expected to complete the Courage to be Safe® training, created by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), through the Everyone Goes Home® Program: http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/training/courage-safe-training/. This online training program takes less than one hour to complete, but provides the foundation for any department that acknowledges that they must change attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards safety, in order to achieve a reduction in firefighter injuries and fatalities. Personnel who have already completed the Courage to Be Safe® program in the past are encouraged to review the program a second time, to identify areas that you can improve the culture of safety within your area of influence. You are also encouraged to explore the other Everyone Goes Home® training modules available on the NFFF website, such as, Leadership So Everyone Goes Home and Leadership, Accountability, Culture, Knowledge (LACK).
This military style “stand down” is designed to raise the level of awareness toward firefighter and EMS personnel safety, and call attention to the high volume of preventable deaths and injuries plaguing the Fire/EMS service. All non-emergency activities should be suspended in order to provide an opportunity for personnel to review and reflect on the requirements of the profession, and what we can do individually and collectively to ensure one another’s health and safety. All personnel are directed to participate in this important endeavor to help ensure that “Everyone Goes Home.”
This year’s Safety Week will focus on the importance of creating a Culture of
Safety. Members of the Department are encouraged to use this week to focus on safety and health training and what you can do to create a culture of safety within your community, your department, your crew, and yourself.
This year ALL personnel will be expected to complete the Courage to be Safe® training, created by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), through the Everyone Goes Home® Program: http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/training/courage-safe-training/. This online training program takes less than one hour to complete, but provides the foundation for any department that acknowledges that they must change attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards safety, in order to achieve a reduction in firefighter injuries and fatalities. Personnel who have already completed the Courage to Be Safe® program in the past are encouraged to review the program a second time, to identify areas that you can improve the culture of safety within your area of influence. You are also encouraged to explore the other Everyone Goes Home® training modules available on the NFFF website, such as, Leadership So Everyone Goes Home and Leadership, Accountability, Culture, Knowledge (LACK).
In addition, personnel are expected to review and discuss the attached document from the
United States Fire Administration, National Safety Culture Change Initiative. This material will
help our personnel open the dialogue, within their stations, about changing the culture of safety
within the fire service today. We will use this resource to focus on what we can do create a
culture of safety in our communities, in our Department, and in our individual lives.
Volunteer Chiefs, Battalion Chiefs, and Station Officers are responsible for ensuring all personnel under their supervision have completed the Courage to be Safe® training and reviewed the National Safety Culture Change Initiative. In order to document personnel participation, each member must send a copy of their Courage to be Safe® Certificate of Completion to the Training and Leadership Academy. In addition, all sworn and volunteer personnel will be expected to complete the survey, which will be emailed out during Safety Week.
Volunteer Chiefs, Battalion Chiefs, and Station Officers are responsible for ensuring all personnel under their supervision have completed the Courage to be Safe® training and reviewed the National Safety Culture Change Initiative. In order to document personnel participation, each member must send a copy of their Courage to be Safe® Certificate of Completion to the Training and Leadership Academy. In addition, all sworn and volunteer personnel will be expected to complete the survey, which will be emailed out during Safety Week.
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