Next week, firefighters with Midway Fire Rescue, will take part in the 2012 Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week, also known as Safety Week.
Fire departments across the country use the week to review procedures and work to improve firefighter health and safety, both in emergencies and long-term.
"We are looking forward to participating in Safety Week," said Bob Beebe, Midway's spokesman. "We have participated in this great program every year to bring awareness to our firefighters on the importance of Firefighter Safety and Survival."
The theme for Safety Week this year is "Surviving the Fire Ground: Firefighter, Fire Officer & Command Preparedness," which encourages all fire/EMS personnel to focus on survival training and education.
"It is critical for firefighters to focus on their own survival on the fire ground," Bebee said. "There is no other call more challenging to fire ground operations than a mayday call - the unthinkable moment when a firefighter's personal safety is in imminent danger."
He said firefighter fatality data compiled by the United States Fire Administration have shown that firefighters "becoming trapped and disoriented represent the largest portion of structural fire ground fatalities."
Safety Week is an event sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
