Can you name the 16 Life Safety Initiatives? Four? How about one?

Well, the shortest and perhaps the quickest one to implement is No. 4: "Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe practices."

This week, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Executive Director Ron Siarnicki announced the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is the first fire service organization in the Washington, D.C., region to commit to implementing all 16 Life Safety Initiatives. A FIRE grant will support the effort to roll out the program nationwide.

Montgomery County Fire Chief Tom Carr explained how his department defined what steps were needed to implement all of the initiatives, and MFD's personnel described how each initiative was broken down into attainable goals. Several other fire departments across the country also have committed to implement all 16 initiatives.

"The 16 Life Safety Initiatives are a valuable road map to join the fire service together," Siarnicki said.

Call it a road map, a blueprint or whatever you want, but these initiatives are an excellent tool to create a safer, healthier environment in your fire department. I like the terminology that the initiatives are a road map -- a road map so Everyone Goes Home.

Over the past several years, a battle cry for unity has gained momentum from fire service leaders across the country. U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison has insisted that all organizations and sections of the fire service need to speak with one voice. While the plea for unity has come from many directions and for various reasons, I think these initiatives can play a big part of that unifying effort.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs and other key partners in the fire service have joined forces to call for a national Firefighter Safety Stand Down on June 21. Throughout the country, every fire department -- volunteer and career -- is asked to suspend any non-emergency activity and instead focus on firefighter safety.

All shifts should be included; no firefighter should be left out. The IAFC recommends volunteer departments conduct a safety meeting as close to June 21 as possible.

The 16 Life Safety Initiatives were created almost a year ago. June 21 would be the perfect day to introduce the "Sweet 16" to your department. What have you got to lose?

Janet Wilmoth, Editor