International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week June 15-21

June 15, 2014 marks the start of International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week.  East Whiteland Township’s career and volunteer fire and EMS personnel are proud participants in this initiative sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). 

 With heart attack the leading cause of on-duty firefighter fatalities, around 81,000 firefighters injured each year, and a number of safety and health concerns facing first responders every day, it is especially important that each responder is prepared in every way when the call comes in. This year’s theme is “Train Like You Fight”.  From June 15-21, 2014, fire service agencies across the country are encouraged to focus their non-emergency efforts on safety and health education in order to reduce the number of preventable injuries and deaths in the fire service.

 At East Whiteland Township, our fire and EMS personnel take health and fitness very seriously.  Understanding that our community depends on us to respond at a moment’s notice to any emergency and that being fit is a “requirement” of the job, our personnel engage in regular physical fitness training while on duty, and we regularly apply our fitness training to real-world fire and EMS tasks during training sessions.  Our goal is two-fold:  Be prepared to safely and effectively carry out the tasks required of us when we are called; and, Make sure everyone goes home safe to their families. 

 In support of this important initiative, East Whiteland fire and EMS personnel designed a fitness challenge circuit that combines or mimics typical firefighting and EMS tasks performed at emergency scenes with an added emphasis on physical fitness.  The circuit can be completed in street or gym clothing, bunker pants, bunker pants and bunker coat, all the way up to full turnout gear and self contained breathing apparatus (on-air or without a mask) depending on the individual’s personal level of fitness.  Personnel will be completing this circuit throughout the week in lieu of their regular physical fitness training around 1 pm every day, weather permitting.   

 East Whiteland Township’s dedicated emergency service providers ask for community awareness and support during International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week and in its safety and health initiatives throughout the year.  For more information about International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week, visit the Safety and Health week Web Site at: http://safetyandhealthweek.org/