Carroll County Department of Fire and EMS of Maryland

06/19/2026

06/19/2026

2026 Firefighter Safety Stand Down

Firefighter FITNESS: Fit to Serve, Fit for Life

DAY 6 - SLEEP & FATIGUE MANAGEMENT 😴🛏️

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
Sleep is foundational to performance, safety, and long-term health.

Sleep is one of the MOST effective ways to improve readiness

BOTTOM LINE
Sleep is not optional—it is operational.

BETTER SLEPP =
1. Safe firefighters
2. Better performance
3. Healthier long-term

06/18/2026

At last night's Emergency Services Advisory Council (ESAC) meeting, two remarkable leaders were recognized for their dedication, service, and lasting contributions to Fire & EMS in Carroll County. Lt. Mike Karolenko and Rick Baker, the last two remaining charter members of ESAC, were honored as they concluded their service on the council.

Since ESAC's inception in 2020, Rick Baker has served as Chair, providing steady leadership, thoughtful guidance, and an unwavering commitment to ESAC’s mission. With the completion of his second term, last night marked his final meeting as Chair and ESAC member.

Lt. Mike Karolenko, also a charter member since the ESAC's founding, concluded his term as well. Chairman Baker presented Lt. Karolenko with a letter thanking him for his years of service and valuable contributions to ESAC.

Chief Robinson and Commissioner Guerin both expressed their sincere gratitude for the leadership, professionalism, and commitment that Rick and Mike have demonstrated throughout their tenure. Their efforts have helped shape the council and strengthen collaboration across the emergency services community.

Please join us in thanking Rick Baker and Lt. Mike Karolenko for their service on ESAC.

06/17/2026

2026 Firefighter Safety Stand Down

Firefighter FITNESS: Fit to Serve, Fit for Life 💪

DAY 4 - NUTRITION FOR FIREFIGHTERS 🍎🥦🥕🍓🥑

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
Firefighters wear PPE to protect against the environment we can see.
Nutrition is your INTERNAL PPE – protecting you from the hazards you can’t.
Every call exposes you to:
•Carcinogens
•Cardiovascular strain
•Chronic inflammation
You can’t completely eliminate exposure – but you can control how your body responds. Nutrition plays a big part in that.

FUEL FOR THE CALL
Firefighters are tactical athletes.

Key Points:
• Carbohydrates = primary fuel source
-Supports high-intensity work, decision-making, & endurance

• Protein = recovery + muscle preservation
-Reduces injury risk & improves repeat performance

• Fats = sustained energy + hormone health

FUEL. PROTECT. LAST.

FIGHT WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE
Firefighters have increased risk of:
◦ Cancer
◦ Cardiovascular disease

Like cleaning your gear after a fire – nutrition cleans you inside.

BOTTOM LINE:
Nutrition fuels performance, protects your heart, reduces cancer risk, and supports long-term health.

06/16/2026

2026 Firefighter Safety Stand Down

Firefighter FITNESS: Fit to Serve, Fit for Life

Day 3 - 6 CORE PRINCIPLES TO MASTER YOUR TECHNIQUE

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
How you move in the gym carries over to how you perform on the job. Movement
quality, awareness, and control drive performance, reduce injury risk, and support
career longevity.

1. Train Movement Matters - Train for the job, not just the gym

2. Use the 6-Point Self-Check - Build strong, efficient positions

3. Evaluate Movement Quality - Posture, alignment, balance & control

4. Protect Technique Under Fatigue - Check yourself before you wreck yourself

5. Load Movement with Purpose - Strength is built by how you load movement

6. Train with Intention - The way you train reflects how you perform

Master Technique in the Gym for Performance on the Fireground

06/15/2026

Fire & EMS Events
Monday June 8 - Sunday June 14, 2026
Total Events - 538
EMS Events - 406
Fire Events - 61
Mutual Aid Events - 71

06/15/2026

2026 Firefighter Safety Stand Down

Firefighter FITNESS: Fit to Serve, Fit for Life

DAY 2 - INTENTIONAL TRAINING FOR FIREFIGHTERS

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
Firefighters operate in unpredictable and demanding environments. That level
of performance is built through structured, purposeful preparation.

Intentional training connects assessment, planning, ex*****on, recovery, and
evaluation into a system that supports consistent performance, reduces injury
risk, and builds long-term resilience.

1. KNOW WHERE YOU STAND
2. TRAIN FOR THE JOB
3. ALIGN TRAINING WITH YOUR PHASE
4. MANAGE INTENSTIY
5. BALANCE STRESS & RECOVERY
6. SCORE THE WORKOUT

Train with purpose for performance on the fireground. 💪

06/14/2026

2026 Firefighter Safety Stand Down (June 14-20)

Firefighter FITNESS: Fit to Serve, Fit for Life 💪

Day 1 - Foundations of Fitness

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
Understanding the health risks firefighters face serves as the foundation for taking the steps needed to remain physically fit.
Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of firefighter fatalities during job-related activities.
Overexertion, strain, and underlying medical conditions represent contributing factors.

Firefighter Cardiac Fatality Facts:
• 39% of all on-duty firefighter deaths were sudden cardiac events.
• 30 fatalities were due to heart attacks, accounting for nearly half of total firefighter fatalities.
• 10 fatalities occurred between ages 45–49 (career and volunteer combined).
• Older firefighters (60+) saw increased risks, particularly for volunteer personnel.

DID YOU KNOW?
Slightly more than half (52 percent) of all departments do not provide individual
exposure tracking, whether it is department-based or a mechanism for
individuals.
• Exposure tracking at the department level is much more common among large departments than smaller ones.

KEY AREAS FOR INVESTMENT
When fire departments invest in firefighter health and safety, the positive impacts can be significant. Following are key areas and action steps fire departments can take to proactively support firefighter physical health and fitness:

1. Fitness and Health Programs
Action Step:
Enhance physical fitness programs to affirm readiness for strenuous firefighting tasks while reducing cardiac strain.

2. Medical/Physical Exams
Action Step:
Review NFPA 1580, Standard for Emergency Responder Occupational Health and Wellness, which provides guidelines for conducting physical and medical evaluations for firefighters.

3. Medical Program for Fire Departments
Action Step: Strengthen prevention training to recognize signs of overexertion and monitor factors like heat exposure and dehydration.

4. Fitness Assessments
Action Step: Refine annual medical evaluations to ensure fitness assessments are tailored to high-stress occupational activities.

06/11/2026

Carroll County DFEMS was excited to participate in Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Day at the Carroll County Farm Museum on Tuesday, June 9!

Participants had the opportunity to spin the wheel and answer fire safety questions for a chance to win prizes, and to try out CPR on a mannequin. They also got an up-close look at a fire engine, explored the apparatus, and even climbed inside while firefighters were on hand to answer questions. Thank you to the Westminster Fire Department for providing the engine and helping make this experience possible.

With beautiful weather and a great turnout, it was a fantastic day of learning, engagement, and community connection. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit us!