The MSFA Fire Prevention & Life Safety Committee is a lead member of the Maryland Risk Watch Community that includes 15 communities with RISK WATCH® programs in community safety education, school classrooms, after school programs, home schooling programs, hospital prevention programs, and Safe Kids Coalitions.
RISK WATCH® prevention activities target the high risk and high frequency injuries to children from preschool through eighth grade. RISK WATCH® resources are used in classrooms, before and after school programs, fire & EMS department outreach, libraries, health departments, and hospitals. RISK WATCH® gives children, their families, their teachers, and the life safety educators in their community the skills and knowledge needed to create safer homes and communities.
Duties & Responsibilities:
The MSFA Fire Prevention & Life Safety Committee is a lead member of the Maryland Risk Watch Community which includes 15 communities with RISK WATCH® programs in community safety education, school classrooms, after-school programs, home schooling programs, hospital prevention programs, and Safe Kids Coalitions. The RISK WATCH® curriculum includes fire and injury prevention and disaster preparedness educational resources targeting preschool through eighth-grade children. Maryland’s Risk Watch work includes activities and programs for both children and youth merging prevention materials from the American Trauma Society, the Department of Natural Resources, FEMA Ready, NFPA, Poison Center, and Safe Kids Worldwide. Unique to Maryland’s Risk Watch initiatives is that the implementation includes a special focus on children with special learning and healthcare needs in Prince George’s County. The Emergency Medical Services for Children program at MIEMSS is the lead agency coordinating this ongoing program.
Ongoing Risk Watch programs include:
- Prevention training and resource sharing at MSFA Committee meetings each year
- Prevention & Life Safety educational display at four MSFA Executive Committee meetings each year
- Interactive prevention educational displays for children, youth, and families during the annual MSFA Convention with outreach to youth members to assist with the education
- Participation in Safe Kids Maryland and seven local coalition meetings and activities throughout the year
- Dissemination of training DVDs “What to Expect When You Dial 9-1-1” and “Right Care When It Counts”
- Development of media and training materials specific to injury risk areas
