The Need
In 2003, there were no systematic fire safety and prevention outreach programs for children in schools throughout San Francisco. Neither the San Francisco Fire Department, nor the San Francisco Unified School District had programs in effect to reach children regarding fire safety. The San Francisco Firefighters in Safety Education (SFFISE) program emerged out of the need to fill this gap in safety education in San Francisco. The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation partners with San Francisco firefighters to deliver this important program to children in schools throughout the city. Fire prevention safety programs are successful. The SFFISE program operates from a belief that proactive education will save lives, empowering children with information to protect themselves and their families from fire-related injuries and fatalities. |
Our Mission
The San Francisco Firefighters in Safety Education (SFFISE) program serves preschools and elementary school students, grades K-5, by facilitating interactive 30 minute fire and life safety presentations. SFFISE reaches out to both public and independent schools in an attempt to educate “each kid, each year” about fire safety and burn prevention. Off-duty San Francisco firefighters teach children basic skills regarding what to do in the event of a fire or other emergency. Children also receive supplemental information about fire safety and burn prevention to take home to their parents, with the request that every family review fire safety together. A “Safety Tips” outline is available in 7 languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Children return home after a SFFISE school presentation as ambassadors of fire safety for relatives in their home.
The SFFISE program operates under the responsibility of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, a California statewide non-profit organization that is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for burn survivors and promoting burn prevention education. SFFISE volunteers are recruited from the San Francisco Fire Department. With support from the department and individual firefighters, the SFFISE program has a wide-reaching effect throughout the city. |
Accomplishments
The SFFISE program has been operating successfully for 5 years, and continues to provide services in schools throughout San Francisco. Over 30,000 students from both public and independent schools in San Francisco have been educated, and this number continues to increase with each additional school presentation. Fire safety is an issue that affects all people. SFFISE operates locally, and has been an outstanding model for replication in other cities with similar needs. In addition to coordinating the SFFISE program in San Francisco, the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation provides materials and services for Firefighters in Safety Education (FISE) programs in 6 additional communities throughout California, reaching thousands of students and families each year. |
| Photo by Michael Mustacchi |
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