The City of Fairfax Fire Department actively promotes and supports Risk Watch, a comprehensive injury prevention curriculum developed by the National Fire Protection Association. Suitable for presentation to children in grades Preschool through 8, the Risk Watch curriculum provides lessons that address the eight key risk areas responsible for the injuries and deaths of the greatest number of children in the U.S. Those risk areas include motor vehicle safety, poisoning prevention, water safety, falls prevention, and fire and burn prevention. Risk Watch activities combine teaching and imagination to help children learn to promote their own personal safety and well being, as well as that of their friends, family, and community. For more information about Risk Watch, please visit www.nfpa.org/riskwatch/home.html or call 703.385.7830 (TTY 711).

Equipped with such amenities as a simulated bedroom, a smoke machine, heated doors, smoke alarms, a closed-circuit television system, and a fire escape ladder, the new Life Safety Education Trailer is essentially a mobile classroom used to teach children and parents about fire safety. Among other uses, the trailer can be used to simulate home fire conditions and help teach families how to plan and practice fire escape drills at home. The trailer can accommodate between 20 - 25 children at one time. Up to six classes (or 150 children) can be accommodated per day. It is ideal to bring to schools and provides a convenient "field trip" opportunity for classes grades 2 - 8. The trailer also is used to facilitate fire and life safety education programs at large fairs and festivals.

The Life Safety Education Trailer was generously donated to the City of Fairfax Fire Department by the Centreville Moose Lodge. If you are interested in having the Life Safety Trailer visit your school or event, please call 703.385.7830 or complete the online form below.

A three-dimensional dollhouse equipped with smoke pots and electric "zappers," the Hazard House is an exciting educational tool that can be used to teach children (and adults) about fire and life safety. The Hazard House naturally appeals to the energy and imagination of children, holding their attention for long periods of time. What happens if I plug too many electrical appliances into one outlet? What should I do when the smoke detector beeps? How far away from the curtains should I place my space heater? What is the best way to put out a grease fire on the stove? Do I need an escape ladder for my house? Answers for these important questions (and for many more) can be demonstrated effectively using the Hazard House. A full Hazard House program can be conducted for most classes in 30 minutes or less. If you are interested in having the Hazard House visit your classroom or come to your community event, please call 703.385.7830 (TTY 711) or complete the online form below.

We would all like to believe that our children would know how to report an emergency in the home. But would they? Calling 9-1-1 can be a stressful event even for an experienced adult. A fun and interactive device, the 9-1-1 Simulator gives children the opportunity to practice calling 9-1-1 before an emergency occurs. Each child picks up a realistic telephone receiver and dials 9-1-1. A recorded voice then asks them to respond to a series of questions that simulate the types of questions asked during a true emergency. Amplified through speakers, as well as through the telephone receiver, the rest of the class can hear each question and answer. What is the emergency? What is your name? What is your address? Are you home now? While seemingly simple questions, most children must practice to be able to answer them effectively. Equally important, the simulator teaches children not to hang up on the 9-1-1 operator until they are told to do so. A fun and easy exercise, a complete 9-1-1 program can be provided for most classes in 30 minutes or less. If you are interested in having the 9-1-1 simulator in your classroom, please call 703.385.7830 (TTY 711) or complete the online form below.

A highly effective and innovative technique for introducing young children to basic fire safety concepts, puppet shows are now available for all preschool, kindergarten and first-grade classes in the City of Fairfax. Puppet shows also may be provided for other children’s organizations and at certain public events. Each show consists of up to eight songs about fire safety. As children listen and sing along, they learn important lessons that will benefit them for a lifetime. Fire safety puppet shows can be conducted for most classes in 30 minutes or less.

The fire safety puppets were generously donated to the City of Fairfax Fire Department by the Centreville Moose Lodge. If you would like to arrange for a fire safety puppet show for your class or organization, please call 703.385.7830 (TTY 711) or complete the online form below.

Family and Consumer Sciences Classes

The City of Fairfax Fire Department is pleased to offer programs on fire safety suitable for middle- and high-school students. Young people who will soon head out on their own to attend college or rent their first apartments are prime candidates for fire safety instruction. From knowing how to safely put out a grease fire on the stove, to recognizing the dangers associated with heating equipment, to understanding how to properly use extension cords, this program provides young people with the information they need to create and maintain safe home environments. Usually taught in a single class session, the program emphasizes topics such as kitchen fire safety, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide hazards, smoke alarms, and electrical safety. The program is particularly well suited for presentation to family and consumer sciences (or "home economics") classes. If you are interested in having a firefighter speak to your family and consumer sciences class about fire and life safety, please call 703.385.7830 (TTY 711).