The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) are now accepting nominations for their co-sponsored Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award.

The award recognizes organizations that work to advance firefighter health and safety, and is proudly supported by VFIS.

Those working within the fire service have long deserved a dedicated focus on their health and safety, and since 2009, this award has recognized the most outstanding achievements in these efforts.

Award criteria are based on the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives:

1. Cultural Change
2. Accountability
3. Risk Management
4. Empowerment
5. Training & Certification
6. Medical & Physical Fitness
7. Research Agenda
8. Technology
9. Fatality, Near-Miss Investigation
10. Grant Support
11. Response Policies
12. Violent Incident Response
13. Psychological Support
14. Public Education
15. Code Enforcement & Sprinklers
16. Apparatus Design & Safety

These initiatives were developed in 1994 by fire service officials at the Firefighter Life Safety Summit in Tampa, Florida. The award recognizing outstanding efforts toward these initiatives was named in honor of retired Senator Paul S. Sarbanes to honor his legacy of fire service contributions, one of which was the authorization of legislation that first established the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation over 25 years ago. Senator Sarbanes retired from the U.S. Senate in 2006 after serving a 36-year career in congress.

Even before becoming a caucus leader, however, Senator Sarbanes was heavily involved in fire service issues. Due to his numerous contributions to public safety, CFSI presented him with the 1997 Legislator of the Year Award, which is the most distinguished legislative award presented on behalf of one million firefighters across the country. In 2009, he then became the namesake of the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award.

Nominations for this award must be received by December 6, 2018. The nomination form can be found online on cfsi.org.

Award presentations are scheduled to take place during the 31st Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner (hosted by CFSI) on April 25 in Washington, DC. To get additional information about this award, register for the National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner or ask questions, please contact CFSI at 202.371.1277.

Sources:

• https://www.everyonegoeshome.com/16-initiatives/
• https://www.cfsi.org/awards/senator-paul-s-sarbanes-fire-service-safety-leadership-award/#application
• https://www.cfsi.org/
• https://www.cfsi.org/2019-dinner/order-31st-annual-dinner-tickets/