The International Association of Fire Chiefs is urging all FIRE CHIEFS, FIRE OFFICERS, LABOR LEADERS and FIREFIGHTERS to join in a COVID-19 FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL INFORMATIONAL STAND DOWN.
While there is no question that we are all aware of the impact of COVID-19 on the various levels of our workforce, it should be noted that as of December 30, 2021, there have been a total of 240 U.S Firefighter deaths (86 in 2020 and 154 in 2021) since the start of the
pandemic.
Now, as 2022 begins, we are seeing a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases that continues to impact our personnel and our ability to provide staffing to serve our communities. The issue of Firefighter & EMS staffing due to Covid impacts all of our personnel, and is making headlines daily across North America.
The leadership of the IAFC has stated the importance of not letting our guard down when it comes to minimizing our exposure to this disease. It is critical that Firefighters be protected through vaccinations to maintain their readiness to respond as we see the number of COVID-19 related runs continue to rise due to the Omicron variant, amidst an already active flu season.
==REQUESTED ACTION:
In an effort to protect our own Brothers and Sisters, through education, and as a part of the IAFC Safety Health and Survival Section’s Fire/EMS Safety Support System, the IAFC is recommending this Firefighter Safety and Survival Stand Down and is urging all North American Fire/EMS leaders to conduct informational sessions in your stations during the week of January 9 through January 15.
This EMERGENCY STAND DOWN provides leaders an opportunity to focus attention on the impact of the COVID-19 virus and the safety, health, and survival of our personnel. Through presentations by leadership, to include the department’s medical director, firefighters and EMS personnel – they can receive life-saving education on the facts in an non-political environment that focuses on personal safety; safety of firefighters’ families; and the safety of those we serve.
By following the below link you can access an excellent PowerPoint presentation that can be used by fire officers and firefighters alike to facilitate informational sessions. In addition, the IAFC has prepared and collected several additional resources that may be helpful for you to use during this session.
==QUESTIONS:
Any questions regarding information from this COVID-19 FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL INFORMATIONAL STAND DOWN can be directed to the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section: [email protected] who will share them with Dr. James Augustine, MD, FACEP, Fire Department Physician and Chair of the IAFC COVID-19 Taskforce..
Dr. Augustine will then answer these questions through his weekly “Ask the Doc” program which can be found at: www.science-alliance.org.
==POWERPOINT DOWNLOAD:
https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/1safehealthshs/covid-stand-down_v8_iafc.pptx?sfvrsn=61d0650c_2
==COVID INFORMATION FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS:
https://www.iafc.org/topics-and-tools/coronavirus-covid-19