Richard R. Anderson
Program Director, Everyone Goes Home Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program

We hope your department was one of the many who renewed their commitment to ensuring that everyone goes home by participating in the stand down on Wednesday, June 21. The focus on vehicle safety was excellent. The IAFC and IAFF are to be complimented for their efforts.

Now What? How do we change a culture that allows unsafe acts to occur time after time until the unthinkable happens? Then we add another name to the wall at the Firefighter Memorial in Emmitsburg, MD, another family will never be the same, neither will their fire department. I think many agree that prevention of line-of-duty deaths and injuries will require a daily commitment. A daily commitment by fire service leaders and fire safety advocates to stand up. Stand up and have the courage to be safe. Fire service leaders must continue to make every day a training day. They must lead by example and lead the culture change day by day to make unsafe acts unacceptable.

We know what to do. The fire service leadership met in Tampa, Florida, in 2004, and mapped out a blueprint designed to prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries. The 16 initiatives were identified.

To honor and continue the path set forth in Tampa, the Firefighter Life Safety Resource Kit was developed. The Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program Team, established by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation through its Everyone Goes Home Program, was tasked with providing "Training Packages" supporting the implementation of the 16 initiatives. These training kits were developed through focus group discussions and contemplation by an educational advisory board comprised of fire service leaders possessing the essential technical and educational expertise. The consensus was there are already many very good training programs: "Don't reinvent the wheel. It is widely accepted that change usually comes about as the result of a significant emotional event. It became clear that the challenge was to develop a program that would provoke, inspire and motivate firefighters into doing what was taught."

The kit contains two DVDs and one CD containing PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans, 12 training drills that can be used by training organizations as well as training/company officers, a resource guide and an instructor's guide. Included are interviews with over 30 nationally recognized leaders providing an unprecedented opportunity for firefighters across America to experience their insightful views and inspirational wisdom.

What Will You Do? Honor the memory of your fallen brothers and sisters who thought the unthinkable wouldn't happen. Be smart: Stay fit, eat right, drive safe, buckle up, know your job. Make a commitment to safety. Use the Firefighter Life Safety Resource Kits and make the implementation of the initiatives your mission. Your family, loved ones, and your fellow firefighters are counting on you not to stand them up…Make every day a training day so Everyone Goes Home. Have the Courage to be Safe.