Course Description
Waterloo Fire Rescue recommends that Fire PALS skills be taught throughout a child's life to help them react properly when faced with various hazards and emergencies. The placement of modules in the curriculum is based on two criteria:
1) The dangers children face at various ages
2) Their ability to learn cognitive and practical skills
As children grow, more information and skills are taught to match their developing cognitive and physical abilities. For example, a kindergartner is taught to have a smoke detector in the home and to periodically check it to make sure it "beeps." As a child reaches fourth grade, he/she can be instructed on where to locate smoke detectors in the home and how to properly maintain them.
Each Fire PALS lesson plan contains the following information:
1) Time Element: Time necessary for the lesson
2) Instructor's Goal: What the instructor needs to accomplish
3) Learning Objectives: What the children need to accomplish
4) Supplies: Materials for the lesson
5) Lesson Plan: An outline of knowledge-based material to cover
6) Activities/Skills: A list of activities, which should be incorporated into the lesson plan to reinforce students' knowledge.
7) Resource Material: Lists brochures, films, etc. available
8) References: Lists information sources
The Role of the Teacher
The role of the teacher is vital to the success of the Fire PALS Program. It requires a commitment of time and resources that cannot be overlooked or unrecognized. With mandates by school district governing boards, and requirements by state and federal governments, teachers have become inundated with things to teach in the classroom.
Waterloo Fire Rescue understands and sympathizes with the workload placed on teachers. That's why the Fire PALS Program is designed to be easily understood, flexible and simple to use, while also targeting assorted benchmarks that teachers are tasked with having students reach. A full commitment to the Fire PALS Program means that the teacher will be willing to have a Fire PALS or Fire Department representative, such as a guest speaker, spend a reasonable amount of time in the classroom conducting the lessons, which in a normal week would amount to a 20 to 30 minute presentation every third week.
The Role of the Waterloo Fire Rescue
A trained firefighter (Fire PAL) will be assigned to each school. The Fire PAL will visit each teacher's class who chooses to participate. The Fire PAL will teach and review the Fire PAL curriculum with students and present activities that reinforce this skills taught. The Fire PAL will also be available to talk to students on the playground and cafeteria.
The Fire PAL will work closely with each teacher and bring materials to the school including handouts, video tapes and posters. Outside guest speakers will also be scheduled.
The Role of the School and Community
Fire and life safety is an integral part of growing up. Fire PAL education provides children with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent disabling injuries and to respond effectively to emergencies. The involvement of the school, its principal, and the PTA is critical to the success of the program.
To encourage school participation in the Fire PALS Program, Waterloo Fire Rescue will conduct a variety of activities. Some of these may be scheduled through the school Fire PAL.
They may include:
1) An Apparatus Display at school
2) Participation in the Family Fire Safety Night with the school PTA
3) Bike rodeo
Summary
Waterloo Fire Rescue's Fire PALS Program is destined for success! It is designed to be simple, flexible and effective. The program is supported by a coalition of individuals and organizations concerned about the health and safety of children. The coalition includes of individuals and organizations concerned about the health and safety of children. The coalition includes teachers, firefighters, community volunteers and organizations such as; Waterloo Public Schools Partners In Education, Covenant Medical Center, Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo Optimist Club, Cedar Valley Catholic Education, Black Hawk County Health Department, Black Hawk County SAFE KIDS Coalition, Think First For Kids, Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross, the city of Waterloo Leisure Services Department.
The Fire PALS Program is not the last word on child safety, nor should it be. However, the citizens of Waterloo we protect are our customers, regardless of their age. The statistics are staggering and should serve as a wake up call for all of us tasked with the health and safety of children. We feel our Fire PALS Program is the most comprehensive injury prevention program there is to date, which will allow us to positively impact the life safety habits of the children of Waterloo for their entire lives.
Special Thanks to:
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Creative Video and Associates. Ad-Fax, Inc.
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