Alachua County, Florida Fire Rescue Educator Shirley Copeland was recognized with the 2004 Safety Education Hero Award after a Florida family credited her program for saving their lives during a house fire.
Copeland, a former elementary school teacher, has been the fire department's public education coordinator for seven years. She goes out to 25 schools to educate 15,000 children every year between October and February, and by sending information home to families, she reaches about 60,000 people.
She said she was surprised and honored by the award, which is sponsored by the Home Safety Council, National Fire Protection Association and the Congressional Fire Service Institute, and was presented at the CFSI National Fire and Emergency Services Banquet in Washington, D.C on May 5. Copeland was also recognized as Educator of the Year in Florida.
