Chief Austin Antrim is pleased to announce that the Nahant Fire Department has been awarded $4,658 in grant funding to support fire safety and education programs.
The grant from the state Department of Fire Services will support fire prevention and education programs in schools and within Nahant’s senior community. The Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) program was awarded $2,881 and the Senior SAFE program was awarded $1,777.
The funding gives fire departments the opportunity to work directly with students and senior citizens to educate them about fire safety. The safety lessons range from fire and life-safety presentations, and what to do if a fire alarm goes off. Each program is tailored to the common issues of each age group including general fire prevention reminders and safe practices in the home.
“Thank you to the state Department of Fire Services for once again supporting our educational efforts. This money will allow us to connect with students and our senior population to help keep them safe,” Chief Antrim said. “Congratulations to Senior Firefighter Frank Pappalardo and Firefighter Matthew Canty, who lead these programs, for securing this grant.”
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.
Twenty-six years after the introduction of the S.A.F.E. program within schools, the rate of annual child fire deaths have decreased by 78 percent, according to the state’s Department of Fire Services, which created and runs the program.
To learn more about the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services’ S.A.F.E program, click here.