To help ensure firefighters’ safety when handling lithium-ion batteries in a variety of situations and scenarios, the NFPA has revealed that the theme for 2023’s Safety Stand Down campaign, which will take place across 18-24 June, is “Lithium-Ion Batteries: Are You Ready?”

The awareness drive will cover topics relating to lithium-ion battery response and safety, which will be broken down into five daily focus areas: recognition of hazards, firefighting operations, firefighter safety, post-incident considerations, and public education.

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), and the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA).

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.

Responder agencies are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activities during the campaign week to focus on training and education related to lithium-ion battery safety awareness and education.

Resources and training videos will be made available at www.safetystanddown.org in advance to help departments plan for and implement Safety Stand Down strategies.

In addition, NFPA will 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 commemorative Safety Stand Down challenge coin.