SAFE Program Delivers Funding to Western Mass.
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The funding comes through the Student Awareness of Fire Education program, administered through the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
"Making our children aware of the fire and health risks associated with smoking-related materials at a young age can greatly reduce the number of fires involving young people," said Downing in a press statement. "With the help of SAFE, we give our children every advantage of understanding the dangers of fire and provide information that can save lives."
The grant program sponsors trained firefighter-educators visits to classrooms across the commonwealth to conduct fire and life safety education programs in Grades prekindergarten through 12. In these programs, students are taught to recognize the dangers of fire, with a particular emphasis on dangers posed by smoking-related behaviors.
Through the SAFE program, firefighters are trained as public educators and work in close coordination with classroom teachers and health educators to present age-appropriate fire safety lessons including stop, drop, and roll; making and practicing home escape plans and reporting fires and emergencies.
Since 1996, SAFE has been raising fire hazard awareness and has identified more than 200 "young heroes," children who have used the fire safety lessons learned in the classroom during a real life emergency.
2008 SAFE Awards for the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin Senate District:
Ashfield Fire Department — $3,100
Cheshire Fire Department — $3,100
Cummington fire Department — $3,100
Goshen Fire Department — $3,100
Huntington Fire Department — $3,100
Lanesborough Fire Department — $3,100
North Adams Fire Department — $3,850
Pittsfield Fire Department — $5,800
Williamsburg Fire Department — $3,100
