Public Education

Update from Pam Orr, Public Education Division Manager

It has been a great year for public education in Meridian! We have reached thousands upon thousands of residents with our education efforts. And new this year, I welcomed a full time position to the division - a second person (it was just me before) to help keep up with the growth and evolution of our community.

Public Education is one of the most cost effective ways to mitigate future emergencies before they happen. In 2018 the Fire Department promoted Herb Griffin to full time status, giving the division a huge boost in our outreach efforts. Not only have we been able to maintain the programs we offer, we are also developing outreach programs that our community has been asking for- Stop the Bleed and Adult Fall education are just a couple of examples.

Here's an overview of public education efforts in 2018:

CPR EDUCATION

Meridian continues to make tremendous strides to be a heart safe community by increasing our offerings of CPR instruction in the community. Heart Safe Meridian has two arms of instruction. We offer American Heart Association (AHA) CPR certification to our City employees, volunteers, and stake holders. We also offer AHA recognized Hands-Only CPR classes to the community. We held 48 classes this year at our training facility, area businesses, churches, and on Friday evenings during the Concerts at The Village series over the summer. Citizens were provided the opportunity to learn how they could save a life should they be confronted with someone in cardiac arrest.

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"Fast action can save lives. Find out what to do if someone experiences a cardiac arrest."

- American Heart Association

SPARKY'S BIRTHDAY

We celebrated Sparky the Fire Dog's 67th birthday in March 2018 with a community birthday party. Families were treated to cupcakes and a reading of Sparky's fire prevention story. The children received a copy of his book which encourages safe fire prevention practices and they also got to meet our friendly firefighters and see the fire engine. Sparky and his dogged determination have ultimately helped reduce fire loss and injuries throughout America. This birthday party was our way to celebrate him and his fire prevention efforts.

SMOKEY'S BIRTHDAY

Smokey Bear's annual birthday party at Kleiner park was a big hit. Smokey Bear turned 74 years old in August and families enjoyed learning from the various safety education booths. They were also treated to ice cream and cookies and had the opportunity to meet firefighters and shoot water from the fire hoses.

CAR SEAT CHECKS

We continued our monthly car seat events in our Meridian Fire Stations. This program allows parents to learn how to install a car seat into their car and properly fit their child. We were also fortunate to receive an Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) grant that allowed us to train and certify four additional Car Seat Technicians. This brings our total technician count to 33. Meridian’s littlest citizens are a big priority for our city and we are working hard to support caregivers in their efforts to keep their children safe while riding in a vehicle.

"Every 33 Seconds a child is involved in a car crash… Let’s care for all kids like they’re our own."

- Safe Kids Worldwide

SMOKE ALARMS - PROJECT S.A.F.E.

Project S.A.F.E. (Smoke Alarms for Everyone) continues to go strong. Along with responding to community members needs with battery change-outs, installation of alarms, and alarm replacements for outdated alarms, we performed neighborhood sweeps in our over 55 communities. Smoke alarms are the best defense in staying alive, should you experience a home fire. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

In 2018 we had 400 contacts regarding smoke alarms and we were able to change out 474 of these devices, 78 of which we provided. We also provided 6 Lifetone alarms for hearing impaired customers. In addition, we changed out 692 batteries in smoke alarms with the department providing 236 of those. The engine companies were called out 163 times throughout the year to assist with smoke alarms.

TRAVELING TRUNKS

Many of our preschool programs requested a visit from our engine companies. In preparation for the visit, we drop off a trunk full of educationally fun items and activities for the teacher and children to use that prepare the children for the visit with the firefighters.

FRIENDLY FIREFIGHTERS

Preschool through first grade programs and visitors to our stations receive a "Friendly Firefighter" talk. We put a lot of effort in teaching our younger children to not be afraid of firefighters in gear. During our time together, our firefighters will show the children what their gear looks like and how it protects them. Then they will put the gear on piece by piece being careful to show that the person under all of the gear is the same friendly firefighter that started talking to them. Once all of the gear is on, they can see and hear what a firefighter geared up looks like and they are encouraged to never hide or run, but instead to come to the firefighter. We had 97 Friendly Firefighter visits to area preschools and schools throughout Meridian.

"More than half of child fire deaths are among children age four or younger—making them an important audience for fire prevention and education."

- US Fire Administration

SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Firefighters and Public Education staff members visit area elementary schools to teach kids important fire and life safety skills as well as about the equipment firefighters use to help injured people and put out fires. We participated in Spring Flings for the Middle Schools where we taught students hands-only CPR. High School students received information on firefighting during career days along with specialty classes requested by the schools.

FIRE PREVENTION MONTH

The National Fire Protection Association established one week to focus all education efforts on the current fire safety issues facing the country. Meridian found out long ago that it takes more than a week to get our life saving messages out to the community, so we plan maximum educational activities throughout the entire month of October. The educational area of focus for 2018 was “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere”.

During the month, we presented educational skits at assemblies to elementary school students in the first through fifth grades and our crews delivered Friendly Firefighter visits to students in preschool through first grade. We taught the students to LOOK for possible fire hazards in their home and to eliminate them, to LISTEN for the home’s smoke alarms and realize that they only have a few moments to get out of their home if a fire should break out, and to LEARN two ways out of each room of their home. We also talked about the importance of having a home escape plan and a safe meeting place outside the home.

We visited many day-care and preschool programs and opened our doors to many visitors from home school groups to scouting groups. Elementary school children participated in a poster contest showcasing the national theme and the winners of the poster contest were treated to an awards ceremony at City Hall with the Fire Chiefs and Firefighters. The winning posters were on display for the month in the Initial Point Art Gallery (3rd floor of City Hall). Two lucky classes received a pizza party with the firemen just for participating in the contest. This was a great way for students to help us get the fire prevention message home to their families.

We once again partnered with Domino’s Pizza for a week to get the fire safety message out in a very unique and tasty way! Customers who ordered pizza during the week were randomly selected to have their delivery arrive from our Engine 32 crew. Once the crew arrived, they explained our partnership and if the smoke alarms in the home were working, the pizza was free. If they were not working, the firefighters were available to trouble-shoot the problem and replace batteries or install fully-functioning alarms.

OPEN HOUSE

October also brings our annual Open House at Fire Station One. We had nearly 600 people attend and visit our educational booths. MFD along with our local partners including police, taught families about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, 911, CPR, child passenger seat safety, seat belt safety, home escape plans, Stop, Drop, and Roll, crime and fire prevention, drug abuse prevention, matches and lighter safety and more. We also held demonstrations of a cardiac arrest scenario, a vehicle extrication, saw a live fire extinguished, and showed our ladder truck operations. This open house allows the public to see a working fire station and also gives them an opportunity to meet first responders to learn more about the services that we provide to the citizens of Meridian.

OLDER ADULTS

The majority of our smoke alarm sweeps and our smoke alarm assistance calls are to assist older adults that live in Meridian. While there, if we identify fire hazards, tripping hazards, or other safety concerns we speak with the homeowner about those concerns. We offer home safety inspections and we provide monthly blood pressure checks at the Meridian Senior Center. Additionally, we provide education at our Over 55 community’s home owner association meetings and to other older adult living facilities.

LIGHT MY FIRE

A group of amazing volunteers work throughout the year on a fundraising dinner and auction that supports Meridian Fire Departments Public Education and Benevolence Fund which assists families in Meridian that have been displaced from their homes due to a fire. We can’t thank this group of volunteers enough for all that they do for us all year long.