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 The Holden Fire Department is proud of its commitment to educate the public in fire safety and prevention.
The Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) program is a statewide initiative to teach fire education and prevention in our community. This program is run by the departments SAFE Coordinator, Firefighter/EMT Jacqueline Prosser. Although the program is mainly aimed at children, fire safety education is taught to people of all ages. The SAFE program is designed to put specially trained fire and life safety educators in the classroom to teach about fire safety and prevention.
This program is designed to equip elementary, middle and high school students with skills for recognizing the dangers of fire. The following topics are taught and discussed, but are not limited to: fire drills, how to identify emergencies and the proper use of 9-1-1, stop, drop and roll, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and the importance of testing and replacing the batteries in detectors, E.D.I.T.H. (Exit drills in the home), holiday safety, ice safety, and the importance of establishing emergency drills and a meeting place outside the home in case of fire or other emergency.
The S.A.F.E. instructor serves as a role model for impressionable youth while providing students with firsthand knowledge of the dangers associated with fire, materials, and the harmful effects of smoking-induced illnesses. The S.A.F.E. instructor will play a significant role in the prevention of fire through such efforts as broadening public awareness of fire hazards and the enforcement of state laws, including those that regulate the use, sale, and storage of smoking-related materials. This program also seeks to reduce tobacco consumption by educating our community about the fire and health related dangers.
In addition to visiting schools, the SAFE Coordinator also visits many of the preschools in Holden. The main goal for children at this age is recognition- what a firefighter looks and sounds like in full turnout gear and what smoke detectors look and sound like. Introduction to fire drills and 9-1-1 are also done on this level.
In recent years, the SAFE program has also partnered with the Council on Aging. Through a grant from the Department of Public a Health and community donations, the fire department is able to supply free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to the elderly. The SAFE Coordinator installs smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for seniors and reviews home safety procedures during the visit.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the SAFE program, please contact SAFE Coordinator Jacqueline Prosser at 508-829-0266, or by email at JProsser@townofholden.net
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