Shrewsbury Fire Dept. S.A.F.E. Grant FY 2004 Year End Report 8/09/2004

FY 2004 was a busy year for the Shrewsbury Fire Department S.A.F.E. Program. The program continues to focus on delivering Fire Safety Lessons to our pre-school and elementary school students. At least one (1) visit was made to each pre-school and elementary school, (grades K-6) in the community. The program also focused on reaching our growing senior citizen population. Lessons and Activities relating to Fire Safety, Tobacco and Injury Prevention were delivered once per school year to grades 7- 8. Numerous station tours, birthday parties and special events were conducted throughout the fiscal year 2004. Classes averaged 45-50 minutes in duration.

S.A.F.E. presentations were mainly based on NFPA “Learn not to Burn” and “Risk Watch” curriculum. Pre-school lessons were based on “Sparky’s ABC’s” curriculum. Lesson’s included poster boards and overhead slide presentations depicting ‘Fire Safe’ activities. They included, Stop, Drop and Roll, Crawl Low Under Smoke, Get Out Stay Out, Home Escape Plans, Safe Meeting Places, Injury and Fall Prevention, Danger’s of Tobacco and Smoking Materials, Dial 911 and many other safety issues. Presentations also included various video tapes and were supplemented with handouts to take home and discuss with family members. Preschoolers practiced Crawling Low out the Exits to designated Safe Meeting Places. Shrewsbury S.A.F.E. Program also used its “Hazard House” from Model Tech Inc. of Canada. It has proved to be an excellent teaching tool which holds the audience’s attention.

In a new partnership endeavor, the Shrewsbury SAFER’s worked with Magician Jason Kallio in formulating a combined Fire Safety and Magic Show. Jason is an Award Winning Magician with over 10 years experience and is the Youth Advisor for the Central MA Assembly of the Society of American Magicians. With our help, Jason has developed the Magically SAFE (Magic with a message) Fire Safety Show. He has performed the Show for the Dept. of Fire Services and other Fire Service Professionals and received high praise for its content and entertainment value. Jason has picked up a corporate sponsor (ServePro) and makes appearances throughout the Commonwealth, most often free of charge. Jason has performed in Shrewsbury Schools along with our SAFE Educators and will continue to do so in Fiscal 05. Jason can be reached via Email at hotmagic@charter.net for further information.

Other endeavors included the 5th annual Shrewsbury Firefighters Association Senior Luncheon. In conjunction with the Union and the Council on Aging, free lunches, as well as, Free Fire Safety Tips and Video Presentation, are provided by the Firefighters to any of the town’s senior citizen’s wishing to attend. This event has been a continuing success and a critical link to the elder community. The department also runs a free smoke detector and battery replacement program called “Project Alarm”. Through generous donations from Home Depot (smoke detectors) and Staples (batteries) we are able to supply our senior citizens with any materials or labor needed to ensure working alarms. Home Depot and Energizer Battery also supply valuable handouts and promotional materials which our S.A.F.E. educators and Firefighters distribute to citizens and students throughout the year. Shrewsbury Friends (Senior Men’s Group) received a Fire Safety Q & A session, along with a video presentation on Fire Extinguishers for home and work. In September, during the Spirit of Shrewsbury Weekend, the District’s Fire Safety House is in operation with hundreds of children on hand to practice their Fire Safety Skills. They hear the alarm then crawl under the non toxic smoke and make their way to a safe exit.

In April, the Firefighters Association held its 6th Annual Charity Basketball Game. The game features Shrewsbury’s Firefighter ‘All-Stars’ vs. All-Pro Celebrity Patriots players. S.A.F.E. educators are on hand to speak with families concerning Fire Safety, Injury Prevention and Hazards Associated with Smoking. Safety literature is available to all who attend, including a game program filled with safety tips.

Continuing population growth in Shrewsbury is foreseen for years to come as the construction of elderly housing complexes, apartment complexes and new homes number in the hundreds. Currently the Town hall is reporting an influx of approximately 200 students per year into the public school system. A second private elementary school (Al Hambra School) was opened in fiscal 04. The Shrewsbury S.A.F.E. Program will continue its goal to educate students, seniors and their families to the Dangers of Smoking Materials and its related negative health effects. We will continue to deliver our Fire Safety and Injury Prevention messages to the community and seek to expand our reach through building partnerships throughout the Commonwealth.

Respectfully Submitted, Captain James M. Vuona –S.A.F.E. Coordinator SFD