MFD PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL STAND DOWN
Beginning Sunday, June 17, 2007, through Saturday, June 23, 2007, the Midland Fire Department will join other departments across the nation for the third annual Fire Fighter Safety Stand Down.  All nine stations will participate.  The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters sponsor the event.

Each of the Midland Fire Department’s three shifts will have an opportunity to participate.  The event urges all departments, career and volunteer, to suspend all non-emergency activity and instead focus entirely on firefighter safety.

This year's Stand Down, themed “Ready to Respond,” will focus on preparing firefighters and EMS personnel for their daily duties by reviewing their training and proper use of equipment to ensure safe response, mitigation and return from all emergency situations. 

In 2006, 105 firefighters died in the line of duty in the U.S.; already this year, 44 have been lost.  The purpose of the Safety Stand Down is to reduce these deaths and injuries by calling attention to the safety practices and improving them. 

A stand down is a method used by the military to correct an issue that has been identified as a problem throughout its ranks. This stand down is to raise the level of awareness toward fire fighter safety and call attention to the unacceptable number of deaths and injuries plaguing fire departments.

The Midland Fire Department has received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for developing a wellness/fitness program to help prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries. 

Last year, an estimated 10,000 fire departments participated in the Fire Fighter Safety Stand Down, including the MFD.