This presentation will detail how a task force of community risk reduction (CRR) specialists in Massachusetts worked with state legislators to create the S.A.F.E (Student Awareness of Fire Education) grant program, providing resources for fire departments to teach fire safety education in schools. Since the S.A.F.E. program began in 1996, child fire deaths decreased significantly in the state; and, for the first time on record in 2020, dropped to zero child fire deaths in a calendar year! The presenter – a member of the task force for more than two decades – will explain how the one thing that was happening in Massachusetts to improve fire safety for children, which was not happening for all other age groups, was consistent, comprehensive, statewide, school-based fire safety education. The presentation will share the problems the task force encountered, highlight a few ‘lessons learned,’ and discuss ways in which attendees can implement a similar comprehensive approach in their own state or region.
Learning Objectives:
The participant will analyze the dramatic decrease in child fire deaths in one state
The participant will examine the relationship between the dramatic decrease in child fire deaths and its relationship to comprehensive fire safety education
The participant will describe the steps to develop a fire and life safety education program for children