Fire Training: Back to Basics

Safety Stand Down 2024 – Planning

Safety Stand Down 2024 may be over, but you can continue to use these planning materials to focus on health, safety, and training in your department.

Safety Stand Down Daily Topics

Each weekday during Safety Stand Down was dedicated to a different topic relating to this year’s theme, Fire Training: Back to Basics. Resources and training relating to each topic can be found on the resources page of this site.

Monday

Building the Foundation of a Training Program
(Foundations 1-3)

Tuesday

Assessing the Needs of the Community and Department
(Foundations 4-5)

Wednesday

Safety During Training (Foundations 6-10)

Thursday

Physical and Behavioral/Mental Health Considerations

Friday

The 12 Foundations of Fire Department Training

12 Foundations of Fire Department Training

This list contains key points from the 2024 Safety Stand Down theme and daily focus areas. Distribute the flyer to your members and hang the poster up at the station. Use these points as a guide to develop activities and discussions.

Activity Ideas

Find inspiration for implementing Safety Stand Down in your department with these Safety Stand Down activity ideas.

Message from NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley
Message from NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch
Message from IAFC SHS Chair Nathan Trauernicht
Message from FDSOA Chair Eric Valliere

Safety Stand Down Quiz Sweepstakes

The NFPA, in coordination with the IAFC, NVFC, FDSOA, and IAFF, annually hosts an online Safety Stand Down Quiz to reinforce the messages behind the event’s theme. Those who took the quiz by June 19 could enter to win one of 200 limited edition Safety Stand Down challenge coins. The quiz has now ended.

Safety Stand Down Events

Webinar – Back to Basics: Enhancing Safety and Performance in the Fire Service
Lexipol hosted this webinar on June 17 to kick off Safety Stand Down. Hear from Battalion Chief (Ret.) Bruce Bjorge, Operations Chief (Ret.) Ray Shanahan, and Safety Stand Down Committee Chair, Deputy Fire Chief Darin Wallentine, as they share insights on the importance of going back to the basics of fire training. Register.

Roundtable Talk: Safety Stand Down – Building the Foundation of a Successful Fire Department Program
This Roundtable Talk featuring representatives from the NVFC, IAFC, IAFF, NFPA, and FDSOA delves into this year’s Safety Stand Down theme, the daily focus areas, and how your department can participate.

Podcast: Every Skill Has a Shelf Life – Safety Stand Down 2024 Prioritizes Back-To-Basics Fire Training (FireRescue1) – Listen to this episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast to learn how to maximize the event in your department.

Additional Materials

Safety Stand Down: Getting Back to the Basics for a Successful and Productive Training Program (Fire Engineering) – This article by Chief Judy Thill explains why training needs to move beyond going through the motions and teaching some drill topics year after year.

12 Questions Every Officer Must Ask About Their Firefighter Training (FireRescue1) – This article by Chief Judy Thill highlights key questions and considerations regarding fire department training.

Standing Down for All of “THEM” (FireRescue1) – This article by Chief Billy Goldfeder discusses what it means to talk about safety and survival in an inherently unsafe profession.

What Are Your Favorite Firefighter Training Drills (FireRescue1) – FireRescue1 contributors and board members share their top back-to-basics training.

Command Training: Simple Tips for New Incident Commanders (FireRescue1) – This article by Chief Marc Bashoor highlights drills that solidify your command skills.

Getting Back to Basics with Safety Stand Down Week (Firehouse) – Pete Matthews urges departments to take Safety Stand Down Week to heart.

Safety and Health Training

You can find on-demand training courses relating to this year’s theme on the Resources page of this site.

Additional training includes the following:

Submit Your Resources, Stories, and Photos

Click here to share your department’s safety and health resources, media coverage, activities you are planning for Safety Stand Down, and success stories from your department

Future Safety Stand Down Dates

Safety Stand Down is held annually during the third week of June.