Fire Rescue
Public Education History
The Public Education Office is the newest component, and has become increasingly important to the Department's mission in Alachua County. Public Education delivers and/or coordinates the delivery of life-safety and injury prevention programs on request. Recognizing the community's need, and the increasing demand for safety education, the Board of County Commissioners first authorized a part time Program Coordinator position in the Department's annual budget during FY 97/98.
The Public Education Office offers educational opportunities tailored for presentation to all age groups from pre-school aged children to senior adults. Programs are specifically designed to address the issues of each age group and cover areas such as fire prevention, injury prevention and public safety. To reinforce the presentation, printed information is available and distributed covering each topic. Education programs include:
Portable Fire Extinguisher Training. Utilizing a curriculum developed by the National Fire Protection Association, ACFR personnel train members of the community in the correct usage of portable fire extinguishers. This 3 to 4 hour program involves a multi-media presentation and review of fire types, fire assessment, and fire safety. Students then participate in a drill during which all are given an opportunity to practice extinguishing flames with a portable fire extinguisher.
Bicycle safety. One of the most successful programs in the Department's history has involved a Bicycle Safety and Helmet Fitting outreach in the elementary schools. During the past year, 10 elementary schools were visited, and close to 4,000 elementary school aged children received properly fitted and industry proven safe helmets. Additionally, safe bicycle riding practices were demonstrated and taught by the Department's Bicycle Response Team that is made up jointly by members of the Department's Reserve Division and the Career Service personnel.
Stop, Drop and Roll
Junior Fire Marshal Program. Conducted annually, the Junior Fire Marshal Program is a statewide program for second grade students. The ACFR Public Education Office is responsible for implementing the program and coordinates the Department's firefighters to deliver the presentation. This program highlights fire prevention and teaches students how to safely escape from the home during a fire related emergency.
Child Passenger Seat Technician. This Program assesses the adequacy of infant restraints and child safety seats for passenger vehicles. A Technician will demonstrate the proper methods for securing these devices using the vehicle's seat belts, and this offers the opportunity to provide the parents with information on reducing the child's injury potential as a result of a vehicle accident.
The Public Education Office is a member of the Safe-Kids Coalition in Alachua County. Participation in this multi-agency program involves coordinating safety education with representatives from Gainesville Fire Rescue, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Gainesville Police Department and Shands Healthcare. Various public safety education events are conducted jointly throughout the year.
Working in cooperation with the other Public Safety agencies in the area, ACFR participates in the recognition of a number of commemorative weeks during the year, including:
Fire Prevention Week This national event highlights fire prevention and fire safety education. This year, ACFR representatives visited 125 classrooms in Alachua County and reviewed 2,000 home escape plans that were developed and submitted by students as a result of the lessons taught during the visits. The home escape plans were evaluated for containing the points the students learned during the presentations and the "winners" were treated to a reception with the Alachua County Fire Chief at ACFR Headquarters.
Emergency Medical Services Week. The Public Education Office coordinates the Department's involvement, which includes activities with other agencies. An exhibit in the Oaks Mall offered opportunities for citizens to meet with agency representatives and tour various types of emergency response vehicles. Information was available concerning health programs and lifestyles aimed at disease prevention. Personnel performed blood pressure checks, and provided instruction on blood pressure monitoring for those who were interested. Printed materials were available with information concerning Emergency Medical Services.
Wildfire Awareness Week and Prescribed Burning Week are both initiatives conducted jointly by the Division of Forestry and the Fire Chiefs Association. ACFR participates in activities commemorating these topics and works closely with the Division of Forestry to provide education for the community.
Other programs and materials that are available through the Public Education Office offer information on the correct usage of 911, poison control and hazardous materials awareness around the home.
Requests for presentations from the Public Education Office have continued to grow each year since the Office's inception. This year, in response to the community's requests, the number of programs conducted the Public Education Office have increased by more than 33% as compared to a similar period of a year ago.
