SERVICES > Fire Department > Fire Education (Page 1 or Page 2)

Did You Know!

Thousands of people are burned every year in Saskatchewan.  Hundreds of those people are burned seriously enough to require hospitalization.

1.         Learn Not To Burn ©

The Learn Not to Burn (LNTB©) program is a fire safety curriculum developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  It uses fun activities to teach children concepts of fire safety.  It was developed for use by teachers in the classroom and has a proven track record of success throughout the United States and Canada.  The NFPA helped begin the project with a grant program called the Safe Cities Award which initiated the program in one pilot school.  The remaining responsibility for program implementation falls on the fire department and the community.  Contact the NFPA for more info!!

One of the major contributors to the fire and burn problem is carelessness and lack of education.  Through the co-operation of the Saskatchewan Board of Education, the Saskatchewan Fire Commissioner's Office, the Saskatchewan Department of Health, and the Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation, the LNTB© curriculum was introduced into every elementary school in Saskatchewan.  With the co-operation of elementary school teachers and local firefighters and fire departments, the LNTB© program teaches children key fire and burn safety behaviors.

Our goal is to educate children about the dangers of fire and burns.  Teaching children these important life saving messages will ultimately help provide us with a more fire and burn safe society.

Burns Do Not Discriminate

Burns can happen to anyone at almost any time or any place.  If a burn does happen to you or someone you know, immediately apply cool water to the burned area until it has been cooled and the burning process has subsided. 

DO NOT APPLY OINTMENTS, CREAMS, BUTTER OR LARD TO A BURN

2.         PROGRAM FIRESTOP

This program has two main goals. 

The first is to educate children who display dangerous fire play behaviors and the second is to provide referral information to caregivers for those children who are in need of more help than education can provide.

Very often children die in fires they started themselves!  Curiosity about fire is quite normal.  Children often show this interest when they light small fires or play with matches lighters or candles.  Children are great imitators and mimic adults who light cigarettes, fireplaces and barbecues.

Fire may also be started accidentally because of poor judgment.  We strive to teach children the safe use of fire and to stop fire play.

CONFIDENTIALITY

This issue remains one of the highest priorities of our program.  No one will have access to your family's information unless it is mutually deemed to be necessary by the family and the interviewer.  This is stated in the program's consent form that must be signed prior to any initial involvement in PROGRAM FIRESTOP.

TIME INVOLVED

The time involved in the initial interview averages between thirty and sixty minutes.

CONVENIENCE

All aspects of the program are designed to suit the family's and the interviewer's timetable.

COST TO FAMILY

NONE.  This service is provided by the SPFFA Burn Unit Fund® in conjunction with the Weyburn Fire Department.

WHY PROGRAM FIRESTOP?

There are a number of reasons for children lighting fires.  The motivation for this behavior often indicates the type of intervention, education or referral for professional assistance that is necessary.

Program FIRESTOP is built upon a loyal group of firefighters and a network of human resource agencies that are trained to deal with fire setters.

HOW DOES PROGRAM FIRESTOP WORK?

Program FIRESTOP relies on references from concerned parents/guardians, human resource agencies, police, fire department, school boards, etc.  First the child and parent/guardian are interviewed to access the level of concern, re: fire setting behaviors.  Next, the child and parent/guardian may be called back to the local fire station for a series of "educational visits" or referred to a community human resource agency.  The "educational visits" may be in the form of a course consisting of discussions, written tests, and/or videos.  If the child successfully completes the course, his/her reward may be a tour of the fire station and/or a certificate of completion from the Fire Chief.

WHERE DO I GET HELP?

Program FIRESTOP has been established in the eight Saskatchewan Communities having professional firefighters. These are Regina, Saskatchewan, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current, North Battleford, Yorkton and Weyburn.

If you would like more information or if you know of someone who would benefit from this program, contact the Weyburn Fire Department, or your local fire department, and ask for your local Burn Unit Fund Representative, or Fire Prevention Officer.