The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) 2015 International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week was June 14-20. The theme was "Creating a Culture of Safety." Fire and EMS departments were asked to suspend all nonemergency activity during the week and all shifts of personnel to focus on safety and health training and education. The theme, which encompasses the "culture" of the community, the department, and the individual, emphasized changing attitudes and behaviors that embrace safety and a proactive reduction of risks. Examples of ways to develop the desired culture cited by the sponsoring organizations included the following: 1. Community: fire prevention, code enforcement, and the use of residential fire sprinklers. Fewer fires, the NVFC and the IAFC explained, mean fewer calls for fire response and a reduced risk to firefighters and emergency medical technicians from vehicle crashes, exposure to toxins, and the dangers presented by large fires.
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