The Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week, formerly known as the Safety Stand Down, is now one of three components of the new comprehensive Fire/EMS Safety Support System, developed this year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Safety, Health and Survival Section.

The system’s three components include:

• Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week, June 22–28, 2008;
• Take 5 Safety drills; and
• FIRE/EMS Stand Down: Priority Survival Notification.

As described in the Nov. 16 member alert, Safety Stand Down Week will now be known as Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week. It will be devoted to reviewing safety policies, evaluating the progress of existing initiatives and discussing health and fitness. Fire/EMS personnel should make a concerted effort to correct safety deficiencies and to provide training, particularly on the safety items pointed out in near-miss events.

Another component of the program will use a series of bulletins each month called Take 5 for Safety. These prepackaged five-minute safety drills will be posted on www.iafc.org and www.iafcsafety.org starting in January. A different topic will be covered each month.

The third component is the FIRE/EMS Stand Down: Priority Survival Notifications. These are the red alert/lookouts for major emergency safety issues that arise during the year. Priority Survival Notifications will be emailed to all IAFC members to explain the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of fire/EMS professionals.