“Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health RESET” is Announced as Theme for Safety Stand Down, June 15-21, 2025
March 4, 2025
The emotional, mental, and behavioral well-being of emergency responders are critical to their overall health and safety. However, firefighters, EMS providers, rescue workers, and other responders often don’t feel comfortable or safe expressing the stresses and challenges they experience, which can result in serious risks to themselves and others. The 2025 Safety Stand Down theme, “Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health RESET,” will focus on the critical topic of behavioral health, encouraging departments and responders to help break the stigma and RESET their approach through the following daily focus themes: Recognize, Educate, Strategies, Empower, and Training.
The week of Safety Stand Down, June 15-21, will cover topics related to behavioral health challenges and ways to support team members to help prevent negative outcomes such as burnout, injuries, anxiety, leaving the department, or suicide. In addition, fire departments are encouraged to use the week to focus on department activities that reinforce how behavioral health affects every aspect of an emergency service department, from safety and retention to productivity and engagement.
Safety Stand Down is a joint initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Safety, Health and Survival Section, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA), and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Held each year during the third week of June, the campaign works to reduce the number of preventable injuries and deaths in the fire and emergency services. In support of Safety Stand Down, responder agencies are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activities during the campaign week to focus on training and education related to this year’s theme.
The campaign web site at www.safetystanddown.org includes resources to help departments plan for and implement Safety Stand Down. Additional tools including specific action plans will be released in the weeks prior to the event.
In addition, NFPA will once again host the Fire Service Safety Stand Down Quiz to raise awareness and foster a greater understanding of this year’s theme. Everyone who completes the online quiz will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes; 200 randomly selected participants will win a limited-edition commemorative Safety Stand Down challenge coin.
Stay tuned to www.safetystanddown.org for more information and resources in the months leading up to the campaign. New information will be added periodically.
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
The IAFC represents the leadership of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide. IAFC members are the world’s leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous material response, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas, develop professionally and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders. Learn more at www.iafc.org.
About the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
The NVFC is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
About the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. The 125-year-old Association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
About the Fire Department Safety Officer Association (FDSOA)
The Fire Department Safety Officers Association was established in 1989 as a non-profit Association, incorporated in Massachusetts. In 2013, the offices moved to Michigan. Its mission is to promote safety standards and practices in the fire, rescue, and emergency services community. The Association is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and has a small staff to handle the day-to-day operations. It is the Association dedicated to the issues that affect your critical role as Safety Officer in protecting and promoting the safety and health responsibilities you have to your department, your community and yourself. In fact, so critical is the role of the Safety Officer in every department in the country, that we train and offer ProBoard Certifications for the Incident Safety Officer and Health Safety Officer to ensure the needed knowledge and skillsets to be successful. FDSOA works to help you achieve proficiency, promote the recognition of your skills and secure your future.
About the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the 21st century. Representing over 354,000 professional fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and rescue workers, IAFF members protect more than 85 percent of the population throughout the United States and Canada. www.IAFF.org.
