Emmitsburg, MD -- The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) announced the selection of the recipients for the Firefighter Life Safety "Seal of Excellence Award". While attending the 2006 Firehouse World Conference and Exposition, Fireman's Fund Insurance and Firehouse Magazine Editor in Chief Harvey Eisner were recognized as the first recipients of this prestigious award.
In 2005, the NFFF initiated a new program that was developed to reduce firefighter deaths in America. The goal of the program is to decrease the 100 plus line of duty deaths by 50% over the next ten years. Sixteen Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives are the core elements of this program. Information about the initiatives can be found at the program website Everyone Goes Home which is the mantra of the Life Safety Initiatives.
The "Seal of Excellence Award" is specifically designed to recognize the efforts of individuals, groups, departments or organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to the efforts of making the American fire service safer. "The first two recipients of this prestigious award have been on the fore front of this project and have committed themselves to implement the 16 initiatives in every fire service organization in America" said Hal Bruno, Chairman of the NFFF. "Both Fireman's Fund and Harvey Eisner have pledged their support and commitment to the goal of reducing the number of firefighters who make that supreme sacrifice each year."
Editor Harvey Eisner was surprised and pleased with the award. "I talk about it every month in the magazine and support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and everything they do. I attended the very first [Life Safety Initiatives] summit in Tampa and am fully supportive in providing space and meeting rooms at our conferences for them."
As a fire chief in New Jersey (Tenafly VFD), Harvey continued, "I think about it everyday in my own department and the safety of my members. The whole industry, cities and towns and counties need to be thinking about the safety of their firefighters."
Funding for the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives program was made possible through a grant by the Department of Homeland Security, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and a corporate match by Fireman's Fund Insurance. Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com, under the auspices of Cygnus Business Media have promoted every aspect of the program thoughout the American fire service.
