NORWOOD — Chief George Morrice is pleased to announce that the Norwood Fire Department has been awarded over $7,000 to support its Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) and Senior SAFE Programs by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.
The Norwood Fire Department will use the money to fund the department’s fire prevention and education program in the schools and within the senior community. The S.A.F.E. program was awarded $5,281 in state funding, while the Senior S.A.F.E. program received $2,680.
“We place great importance on our ability to provide education on fire safety and prevention to our students as well as to our senior citizens,” Chief Morrice said. “With this funding, the Department of Fire Services and Baker-Polito Administration also acknowledge the continued benefits of these programs and we appreciate their support.”
This funding gives fire departments the ability to work with students in classrooms and senior residents to provide fire and life safety lessons tailored for each age group. The lessons taught in the school-based program are in line with the standards of both the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Health Curriculum Frameworks and the state Department of Fire Services Curriculum Planning Guidebook.
The rate of annual child fire deaths has decreased by 78% 26 years after the introduction of the S.A.F.E. program within schools, according to the state’s Department of Fire Services, which administers the two programs.
The S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE Programs provide $1.9 million through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to local fire departments. The programs are administered by the state’s Department of Fire Services.
To learn more about the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services’ S.A.F.E. program, click here.
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