NCJ Number
54613
Date Published
1977
Length
31 pages
Annotation
THIS GUIDE ON DEVELOPING FIRE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY, ADULTS, AND CHILDREN OFFERS IDEAS ON APPROACHES, ACTIVITIES, DISCUSSION MATERIAL, AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES TO USE WITH VARIOUS GROUPS.
Abstract
THE PAMPHLET BEGINS WITH A DISCUSSION OF SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY REGARDING FIRE SAFETY. ELDERLY PERSONS OFTEN LIVE ALONE IN SUBSTANDARD FIRE-HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, AND ARE NOT ALWAYS AS ALERT AS YOUNGER PEOPLE (MOST SENIOR ADULTS ARE INVOLVED IN FIRES BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND 10 A.M. WHICH MAY BE DUE TO GROGGINESS WHEN THEY WAKE UP). THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO USE FLAME-RETARDANT CLOTHING, ABSTAIN FROM SMOKING EARLY IN THE DAY, AND LEARN AND PRACTICE FIRE ESCAPE ROUTES. FIRE SAFETY INFORMATION SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH LOCAL CHURCHES, SOCIAL CLUBS, AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OFFICES. ADULTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING FIRE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. EDUCATORS SHOULD TELL THEM THE FACTS ABOUT FIRE HAZARDS, APPEAL TO THEIR BASIC CONCERNS ACCORDING TO THE AREAS IN WHICH THEY LIVE (E.G. RURAL AREAS--THE DANGERS OF BRUSH FIRES), AND BE SPECIFIC ABOUT HAZARDS AND APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. OLDER CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO IDENTIFY FIRESETTERS (MOST FIRESETTERS ARE IN THIS AGE GROUP), RECOGNIZE THE HAZARDS AND CONSEQUENCES OF SETTING FIRE, AND LEARN APPROPRIATE ATTITUDES TOWARDS FIRESETTING. FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN SHOULD TAKE A DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH, EMPHASIZING THE DIFFERENT FIRE HAZARDS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TO CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH. WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSION TOPICS ARE PROVIDED FOR USE IN DAY CARE AND NURSERY SCHOOLS, KINDERGARTEN, AND ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS. (DAG)