FDNY Unveils New Fire Safety Education Initiative

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Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott, Department of Education Chief Executive Officer of School and Youth Development Elayna Konstan, Department of Education Executive Director of School Support and Instruction Despina Zaharakis, Chairman and C.E.O. of 4Kids Entertainment Al Kahn and twenty-five New York City school students will unveil a new fire safety education initiative at the FDNY Fire Zone Store, 34 West 51st Street, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 27.  This initiative, which features a new fire safety website, www.fdnyfiresmart.org, is funded by a $900,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security awarded to enable the FDNY to spread fire safety education through technology.  Public Service Announcements using FDNY approved fire safety information targeted to children are made possible by 4Kids Entertainment.

"The most effective way to fight fires is to prevent them, and the best way to prevent fires is through education," said Commissioner Cassano.  "This new initiative will bring our fire safety education directly to classrooms, homes, and streets of New York City.  We're using technology to create a program that will make people of all ages, and especially children, fire smart."

"This Administration is proud of its record of encouraging innovation and partnership," Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott said. "The FDNY has created web-based lessons, quizzes and games, and has teamed up with the DOE to make them accessible to our public school children. This collaboration allows our students to learn about fire safety in a creative way through technology."

"Commissioner Cassano, along with the staff at FDNY and the Office of School and Youth Development and Division of School Support and Instruction are providing additional web-based resources to our schools to teach our young students fire safety," said Deputy Chancellor of Operations Kathleen Grimm. "Fire safety is a top priority and we want to ensure that our students are prepared in school and at home."

The new website, www.fdnyfiresmart.org, is designed to bring the vast fire safety and prevention resources of the FDNY directly to the classroom.  Teachers will have the ability to request a lecture from the FDNY Fire Safety Education unit for their school, and can access detailed lesson plans to teach children the dangers of playing with fire, as well as what to do if a fire occurs.  Children will find games, quizzes and videos that will both engage them and give the knowledge they need to prevent and escape from fires.  Parents and seniors will also be able to access fire safety tips and useful information for making their homes fire safe.

Public Service Announcements offering fire safety tips for children and featuring 4Kids Entertainment characters, including Sonic the Hedgehog, began airing this month during Saturday morning cartoon shows.  Finally, kiosks will be placed in locations around the city, affording New Yorkers the opportunity to access these PSA's and the new website.  Kiosk locations include the FDNY Fire Zone store, Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, and several other sites around the city.

WHO:
Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano, Chief of Training Thomas R. Galvin, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott, Department of Education Chief Executive Officer of School and Youth Development Elayna Konstan, Department of Education Executive Director of School Support and Instruction Despina Zaharakis, Chairman and C.E.O. of 4Kids Entertainment Al Kahn, Representatives from National Law Enforcement and Firefighters Children's Foundation, Members of the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit, representatives from the FDNY Foundation, children and teachers from the Chelsea school

WHERE:
FDNY Fire Zone Store – 34 West 51st Street

WHEN:
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 – 11 a.m.

***Following the announcement, 25 students will receive a fire safety lesson using the new website from the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit***



Author:FDNY Press Release