The ongoing efforts to reduce line-of-duty deaths and improve firefighter safety just got a big boost from the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program has awarded $1.3 million to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). This grant will help support Everyone Goes Home®, the NFFF’s comprehensive health and safety program.

The money will be used to support programs related to the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. This will include a focus on research related to heart attacks, the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths. Funds will also be directed to conduct a study on suicide in the fire service, an issue that impacts firefighters and families alike. The grant will also focus on firefighter safety training at the company officer level and cancer reduction.

“The Foundation is grateful to receive this grant so that we can continue our mission of honoring our nation’s fallen firefighters and their survivors by helping the fire service prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries,” said Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki, executive director of the NFFF. “A key component of the grant will increase our ability to share vital information and resources to help firefighters do their jobs safely and effectively.”

Everyone Goes Home® is a national education and training program to help reduce the number of line-of-duty deaths and injuries that occur each year. The program was created to support the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives (FLSI) that were developed and re-affirmed by fire service and industry leadership during the 2004 and 2014 Firefighter Life Safety Summits in Tampa.

For more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Everyone Goes Home® visit www.everyonegoeshome.com