I don't know about you, but nothing makes me happier when I realize that the application period for the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants is near. According to an email blast from FEMA that was just sent out, it's anticipated that the application period for the 2011 FP&S grants will be held early Spring 2012 . Part of what can help make a grant be successful, is to BE PREPARED . If you...

One of the most exciting things about technology is that you can reach more people faster with the fire safety message. In one of my previous posts , I shared how exciting it was that Facebook was opening up doors.   About a year ago, I started playing with the idea of live streaming a fire safety show. 15 episodes later,  Sparkles' Safety Spot  has reached thousands of children and their...

As educators, we are constantly looking for resources to help those in our community. With the threat of an impending hurricane upon the east coast and those not familiar with earthquake preparedness, I wanted to share some resources from my favorite site on preparedness for disasters, Ready.gov .  Ready.gov’s earthquake site includes what to do before, during and after an earthquake...

This time of year the National Fire Protection Association announces its Fire Prevention Week theme. The theme this year is, “It’s Fire Prevention Week. Protect your Family from Fire!” Whether you are a seasoned fire safety educator or brand new to the profession, the Fire Prevention Week website is a wonderful resource. Each year in Johnson County here in Arkansas, we hold a Fire...

This evening I had the pleasure of visiting with Raymond Nance, Deputy Fire Marshal for the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office. Ray and I have known each other for a few years, and I learned a couple of days ago that he utilized a ventriloquist dummy, "Deputy Dan" in his fire safety programming. I was intriqued with Ray's method of sharing fire safety, and I had never been up close to a...

Received a note from Ed Comeau sharing that there will be a free webinar entitled, “Community Risk Reduction- doing it in the USA!” this coming Monday, April 11 th at 11:00 am. Eastern time. The webinar, sponsored by Vision 20/20 through a DHS Fire and Prevention and Safety Grant to the Institution of Fire Engineers USA Branch, will take a look at successful community risk reduction...

Just received a reminder this morning that the application deadline for the 2011 NFPA Fire and Life Safety Educator scholarship must be received by close of business tomorrow, March 18th.  There is still time to get your application in. Having seen educators benefit from this opportunity, many have found it a great opportunity for professional development and networking. The dates...

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) at the National Emergency Training Center is a great resource that provides prevention and fire safety related materials for fire safety educators. The LRC is a reference service that provides both onsite and an online catalog of resources. The beauty of the LRC is that many materials may be obtained through an interlibrary loan The LRC has been in existence...

This just out! If you are like me, you have be waiting with anticipation for the third edition of the Fire and Life Safety manual from IFSTA to come out. It was an honor to serve on the validation committee for the manual, and within the coming week, the Playing it Safe blog will be sharing some of the thoughts of committee members and from one of the writers of the book, Beverley...

Low on funds? Contests are a wonderful way to help supplement your fire safety program. Over the years, I have seen many educators enter contests that have helped them with their program. I don’t know about you, but I love contests! Contests having prizes that include fire safety related materials are even more fun! I recently learned that this year is a special year as Sparky the Fire...

Welcome to the "Playing it Safe" blog! Hope that everyone is having a good week so far. Let's get started with this week's fire safety programming tip. You see them out there. Companies of all types trying to sell your fire department their wares, from everything to oven mitts, to cups, to coloring books, you name it. These things might be nice to have, but many items might be over the top...

Hello everyone!   Hope that you are having a good 2011 so far! Wanted to share a couple of deadlines that are coming up in February, but before I do, wanted to mention that Siren, my 5 month old Dalmatian, is growing up so fast! Siren and I have been busy "Skyping" with students all over the world! Someday I will share more information on skyping and how you can reach more children in...

Today the Home Safety Council announced the launch of the Expert Network Academy. On January 6, 2011, HSC will hold a webinar introducing a new fire and injury prevention training resource for the US fire service and safety advocates nationwide from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. EST . As a coach for the expert network Academy, I've seen first hand some of the planning involved with this venture...

One of the e-newsletters that I look forward to arriving in my inbox is Safety Source , NFPA’s monthly public education e-newsletter. Fire Safety Educator’s can get the latest information on happenings in NFPA’s public education division, Ready for Risk Watch ® news, Remembering When ™ activities, fire statistics, trends, educational tips, life saves, and more. My favorite...

As I stood in line at the pharmacy the other day, I stuck up a conversation with the woman behind me.   Seeing the fire department logo on my shirt, she proceeded to tell me that her home recently caught fire. As she shared her story, it sent shivers up my spine when she told me that she went back into her house to get her jewelry.   How many times do we hear stories like this? If...

Morning, everyone! There's nothing like hearing good news and I would like to offer my congratulations to Jeanene Green and my fire safety educator friend, Gerri Penney from Florida. The Florida Association of Fire and Life Safety Educators (FAFLSE) is one that I have admired over the years. I watch in awe in how a state is able to have such a wonderful organization for its fire and life...

Streaming live online today, beginning at 8:30 A.M. EST, is the Vision 20/20 Model Fire Prevention Symposium held in Baltimore Maryland. The symposium showcases local programs that are producing results and have the ability to document success. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/test-1981 Here is a look at today's schedule: Developing a Comprehensive Prevention Prgoram A Solution for...

One of the ways that I enjoy expanding my knowledge is to visit with other educators from across the country and learn about their fire safety programming.   In the fire safety education arena, there is always room to expand our knowledge, which in turn, can help keep our programming from getting “stale.” This knowledge provides ways in which we can reach more of our target audience...

Have you given any thought to doing a fire safety presentation via Skype? Lately, Sparkles and I have had an amazing time sharing the fire safety message via this incredible technology.   For those of you unfamiliar with Skype, it is a free and easy way for educators to share the fire safety message. It is a fast-growing technology and I found some stats on Skype that I wanted to share. Did...

One of the things that I have enjoyed as a fire safety educator has been learning all of the innovative things that other educators from across the country do to help keep those in their communities fire safe.    In my early years, I was constantly looking for unique ideas and found one that has been “tried and true” throughout the years.   The “Fire Safety Traveling...

Happy New Year! I hope that this blog finds you well in the new year! To kick off 2010, the Playing it Safe blog will feature a fire safety educator or program monthly. Sharing program ideas and resources is a great way to help your fire safety program grow.   While on a recent trip to reveiw fire grants, I had the good fortune of meeting Fire Inspector Jeni Pierce, the Fire and Life...

Facebook is quickly becoming the tool of choice by many leading fire departments in helping spread the fire safety message. With more than 40 billion page views each month , Facebook is the sixth most trafficked site in the United States. For those unfamiliar with Facebook, it is an online social network that connects people through their colleges, universities, high schools, or workplace...