The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is once again pleased to work with our national and international fire service partners to help support this week-long event through which fire agencies around the nation focus on a specific fire service safety issue.

The Safety Stand Down takes place June 16-22, 2019. This event highlights critical safety, health, and survival issues for the fire and emergency services. All fire departments and personnel are asked to take the week of June 16-22 to focus their attention on safety and health education and training. A week is provided to ensure all duty shifts can participate.

This year’s theme is REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE: IT’S EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.

Cancer is one of the most serious threats facing firefighters, but there are specific actions that can be taken take to lessen the risks to firefighters and their co-workers. DPSST hosted a two-day seminar for fire service leaders last month at the Oregon Public Safety Academy during which national fire service clinicians and researchers shared their work.

A national webpage has been created for local fire departments to implement Safety Stand Down in their organization.

For more information please go to www.SafetyStandDown.org.

## Background Information on the DPSST ##

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) operates the Oregon Public Safety Academy which spans more than 235 acres in Salem. The Academy is nationally recognized for its innovative training programs and active stakeholder involvement.  Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director, and Sheriff Jason Myers of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office serves as the Chair of the Board. The department implements minimum standards established by the Board for the training and certification of more than 40,000 city, tribal, county and state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers and private security providers.

DPSST provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem: certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.