School Safety Programs

Preschool Programs

Fire personnel utilize two educational programs for teaching fire safety to preschool age children. One program, titled "Play Safe, Be Safe", includes a four-hour fire safety lesson plan with a video and several activities. This program is best suited for home daycares as it is tailored to small groups. The Public Education Division has a limited amount of “Play Safe, Be Safe” kits available for a two-week check out period. Call 253-288-5800 to borrow a kit.

Those who wish to purchase a kit may simply mail a check for $12 made out to "Play Safe! Be Safe!" to:

Play Safe! Be Safe!
1 Grove St, Suite 210
Pittsford, NY 14534

The second educational program used is the National Fire Protection Association’s eight behavior preschool fire safety curriculum. It is taught to the staff of larger preschool and childcare facilities. The curriculum requires preschool staff teach seven fire and life safety behaviors to their children. The final review and eighth lesson is conducted by fire department staff. To obtain the curriculum and training for your preschool staff, please call the Public Education Division at 253-288-5800.

Elementary School Fire and Life Safety Instruction

VRFA personnel teach a fire and life safety curriculum to all kindergarten through third grade classrooms in ten public and four private schools our jurisdiction. The curriculum builds upon itself, with the most important fire safety behaviors being taught by grade three. Kindergarten students learn basic behaviors such as “stop, drop and roll” and “don’t touch matches and lighters, tell a grown-up to put them in a safe place.” By second grade, students learn how to identify fire hazards in their home and can plan and practice ways to escape a fire. In third grade, students learn the behavior of fire and smoke as well as the consequences of playing with fire.

High School Programs

Statistics show that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of Emergency Medical Services responses in King County. Furthermore, the 15-19 year-old age group has the highest incidence of crashes for all age groups. Auburn rates fourth in the number of crashes in this age group, behind Kent, Federal Way and Bellevue. Many of these crashes are caused by excessive speed and/or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

To address this trend, and to try to prevent teen and young adult motor vehicle crashes, the VRFA teaches a program called "Think Again," an in-class program targeted at high school students. The program is taught by firefighter/EMTs and includes a candid discussion on driving under the influence situations and seat belt use, as well as an explanation of what typically happens to the human body during and after motor vehicle crashes. Instructor anecdotes, demonstrations on the use of actual medical equipment, and graphic DUI photographs are included in the course. An assembly by Harborview Medical Center's "Think First" organization for spinal cord injury prevention may be an additional component for a minimal fee, if the school prefers.

View the VRFA calendar to find upcoming classes.