Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility. That's the theme of the 2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health, and Survival Week. The observance encourages emergency responders to focus on what they can do to manage personal risk and enhance their health and safety. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), one of the sponsors of the week, recommends activities in three categories:

• Safety: With the focus on emergency driving, recommendations include lowering speed, using seat belts, and stopping at every intersection.
• Health: The goal is to combat firefighter heart disease and promote cancer education and prevention. Recommendations include don't smoke, get active, eat a heart-healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and get screened.
• Survival: To improve skills in structural size-up and situational awareness, IAFC recommends that firefighters be aware of different types of building materials and construction, complete a 360-degree walkaround of the structure, learn to "read smoke," and be familiar with the accepted rules of engagement.

IAFC offers specialized suggestions for fire chiefs. One is to "become personally engaged in safety and make it part of your strategic vision for your department."