First Responders Safety Stand Down June 15-21

Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad - The busiest station in Montgomery County

Safety Stand Down focuses on the health and mental wellness of first responders - EMS, fire, rescue, dispatch and other emergency services personnel. The 2025 Safety Stand Down takes place the third full week of June.

It is important that we do not lose sight of the importance of safety and health education with our first responders. Safety Stand Down asks us to break the stigma around mental health and RESET our approach to mental wellness. RESET stands for:

Recognize the potential behavior health issues emergency first responders face, understanding everyone’s experience can be different.

Educate all levels of the organization, including family members, about the signs and symptoms of suicide and other behavioral health concerns and the resources available for assistance

Strategies and tactics should be developed to incorporate behavioral health responses into SOPs/SOGs, operations/post-operations, onboarding and department culture

Empower all levels of the organization to “speak up” and to not be afraid or ashamed for seeking support for behavioral health issues

Training on behavioral health issues and resources she be written into your department’s ongoing training plan to include awareness, resilience and resources available in your community that can support your department and their families