HAVE YOUR FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS KEPT UP WITH THE TIMES?
TOM KIURSKI
In just the past 30 years, the fire service has made significant progress in the area of fire safety education. Prior to the 1973 report America Burning, educational programs were few and far between for a number of reasons.
Fire calls predominated. First, firefighters responded to a much higher incidence of fire calls. Even though fire calls remain the top priority, today`s firefighters are more involved in other areas, such as emergency medical calls and hazardous-materials incidents. Most fire departments are quite comfortable teaching their community about fire safety, but we respond to much more than fire these days. We respond to automobile accidents, bicycle accidents, poisonings, drownings, and so much more. If we respond to it and can get information on it, we should be one of the community advocates trying to prevent it. Our scope has recently switched from fire safety to fire and life safety, taking into account the many aspects of accident prevention.
A lack of model programs. Second, there was a lack of model programs available for the average department to use. Yes, there were some departments that were way ahead of their time in educating the public, but a system was not in place for sharing this information with other departments on a local level, let alone nationally.
Lack of awareness of duty to educate. Finally, I believe that most firefighters were unaware that part of their job description included educating people in their communities about the ravages of fire, so very little effort went into training firefighters on how to deliver these important fire and life safety messages.
Time marches on, however, and the American fire service is doing much better at educating the public than it did 30 years ago. Technology has certainly helped us along the way, but it`s the commitment of the firefighters of this country that makes these programs accessible to the general public, which, in turn, results in a safer America. The number of fire deaths has decreased dramatically–from about 12,000 per year in 1970 to about 4,000 per year today–and this is being accomplished in a population that has grown significantly during that same period of time. As we approach Y2K, let`s take a look at where we may be in terms of fire and life safety education within our departments.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE WORKED
Tours of the fire station. We often get requests for educational programs from schools, businesses, daycare centers, and other community organizations. Tours of the fire station represent a major part of our educational endeavors in many communities, as they can be handled by on-duty crews almost any day. The organization`s contact person generally has a specific reason for requesting the tour, and all tours should include some educational component appropriate for the age range of the tour group.
Giving a tour provides a number of “springboards” for moving in that direction. For instance, as you describe the turnout gear and SCBA, you can remind the young audience members that the firefighter is their friend and that they should never run or hide from the firefighter. While touring the fire station, point out the smoke detectors in the station, emphasizing the need for them in every home and business so that they can give an early warning of fire. A tour situation is also an ideal time to set up future educational sessions that might meet the specific needs of the group.
911. It has been about 30 years since we saw the advent of 911 in the United States. The nationwide, easy-to-remember number for people to call during an emergency has made it possible for firefighters to arrive on the scene to offer help much earlier than ever before.
When educating the public, it`s important to point out that 911 is a number that can be remembered at a very early age, even by preschoolers. We have probably all seen episodes of Rescue 911 in which a very young caller recognized the need for help, called for help, and saved a life. Most children do not learn their addresses until the first grade, but “enhanced 911” acts like a caller ID system, bringing up the address of the caller as the child describes the situation.
A way to reinforce the importance of calling 911 is to “test” audience members several times during your presentations. Ask questions such as “Who would you call?” while describing “crawl low under smoke” behavior. Although we rarely see 911 stickers on telephones today–because of the widespread knowledge of the system–a few remote areas in this country still are not covered by such a system.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have done much to simplify CPR training programs over the years. Fire departments are out there getting their citizens certified in CPR and first aid on a regular basis in an effort to reduce the time from incident to medical care. Although some fire departments may find it too time consuming to offer those courses, a much shorter course on “Emergency Action,” informing students about what constitutes major (911) and minor emergencies and how to handle both until EMS arrives, is a popular concept. With the increased availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), providing an overview of the components of this device for your community is worth the time and effort.
Vehicle safety. Although seatbelts have been around for more than 30 years, shoulder harnesses, air bags, and child safety seats are relatively new. We need to educate community members about these potential life-saving devices that all too often are ignored. Educational materials are available from many places, such as the Internet, state highway departments, the Department of Transportation, and many insurance companies. Distribute these informational brochures and statistics whenever you get the chance.
Water safety. Depending on your local climate, the length of your pool and water safety season will vary. It is best to try to pass on statistics and information on this topic as your season opens and again as it comes into full swing. By targeting this campaign at the beginning of the busy season, you can educate those who have recently purchased pools, hot tubs, or recreational watercraft, as well as reinforce the lessons for those who have heard the messages before. By refreshing your message during the peak season, you will have a seasonal topic at a time when the interest level is high.
Poisonings. Poisonings have dramatically decreased over the past 30 years, largely because of the passage of the childproof caps legislation. Yet, we must be aware that many poisonings still occur among young children, who experiment by placing objects in their mouths. Another factor is the strong resemblance of some medicine packaging to candy packaging. The educational efforts must be targeted at parents and caregivers of the youngsters. The Internet, pharmacies, and local poison control centers will give you much of the information you will need to start a program.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Unaware citizens may grumble that career firefighters get paid mainly “for sleeping”; today`s emphasis on public relations can do much to alter that misconception. Whenever the work we do is of benefit to the community, we need to make certain that we get the word out by simply letting the newspapers and cable and television stations know when we have an educational program lined up–and even if a specialized training class is scheduled or a new piece of equipment is ordered. Some of these events will get coverage, depending on the type of program and the space and time the media have available.
A number of great programs have been developed that make the media want to cover the story–for example, the concept of a “Citizens Fire Academy” has been around for a few years. It offers community members an opportunity to get a “special” inside look at the fire department.
Sharing with these citizens the department`s history, mission statement, and entrance requirements and offering a simplified version of some high-interest subjects, such as SCBA and hose handling, create enormous public relations advantages. The hands-on classes are very “photo-friendly”; the graduation ceremony may be newsworthy as well. Pass on a schedule, and let the area media choose the segments they will cover. When members of the media arrive, try to have someone there to answer their questions without disrupting the class. Be patient and keep the media informed, and good public relations will come your way.
There are innumerable innovative ways to get messages out to the public. Here in Livonia, we approached a pizza franchise to ask it to help us deliver the message of fire safety. It agreed to pass out our brochures on home fire safety with its pizza deliveries and pickups during Fire Prevention Week. This brought us some positive public relations. We plan to expand that program by buying pizza dinners for a few customers who have at least one operational smoke detector on every level of their homes. It is hoped that this promotion will get us some additional media coverage as well as create an interest in residents` obtaining and maintaining smoke detectors.
The fire service has made great strides in keeping communities safe not only from fire hazards but from other types of potential accidents as well. By using available resources and remaining committed to bringing about further advances in safety, we can make our communities even safer. As the year 2000 quickly approaches, this is a great time to evaluate your current efforts and to make any changes necessary for Y2K compliance. Remember, if it saves just one more life, the effort will be worth it!
TOM KIURSKI is a firefighter and the director of fire safety education for Livonia (MI) Fire & Rescue.
