The VFW sponsors safety programs through its Posts: Pedestrian, drug, highway, home, fire, bicycle, and off-road vehicle. Also, the VFW recognizes individuals who are involved in safety annually throughout its Posts, Departments, and at the National level.
For more information
Safety Manual
SAFETY RECOGNITION
GOLD MEDAL AWARDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVANTS
Each year, the VFW selects an emergency services person, a law enforcement officer and a firefighter to receive VFW Gold Medal Awards. The presentation of these awards is made at the VFW National Convention in August. Eligible candidates for each award are as follows:
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN GOLD MEDAL
Any individual who actively gives emergency medical treatment, provides rescue service or civil disaster assistance as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to give emergency medical care, provide rescue and civil disaster assistance to our nation’s citizens.
LAW ENFORCEMENT GOLD MEDAL
Any individual who serves in a municipal, county, state or federal unit tasked with enforcement of the laws pertaining to their area of responsibility. This award does not apply to individuals employed by private companies or security services.
FIREFIGHTERS GOLD MEDAL
Any individual who actively fights fires as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to fight fires and give assistance to our nation’s citizens.
CRITERIA FOR ALL GOLD MEDAL AWARDS
Candidates must have demonstrated:
1. Recognition by their colleagues or those they serve.
2. Consistent excellence in the performance of their duties.
3. Consistent dedication to their official responsibilities over a period of years
4. Continuous growth in responsibilities and skills within their profession.
LIFE SAVING AWARDS
Safety Chairmen at Posts, Districts and Departments are encouraged to regularly identify and honor individuals throughout the year in their geographic area who have saved a life. The VFW National Programs Office provides the following three different citations, free of charge, for local presentation.
REGULAR LIFE SAVING CITATION
Honors individuals who have, without regard for their own comfort, taken action resulting in the saving of another human life.
LINE OF DUTY LIFE SAVING CITATION
Honors individuals who, in the execution of their assigned duties, have taken action resulting in the saving of another human life.
VALOR LIFE SAVING CITATION
Honors civilians who have taken action resulting in the saving of another human life and have placed their own safety at risk.
VFW Youth Hero Award
A product of the VFW’s Life Saving Awards is the Youth Hero Award. Each year, the VFW reviews the files of those submitted for life saving citations from the Departments and pulls out all those recipients under 18 years of age at the time of their heroic act.