Assessment of the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) Program: Results of child fire and life safety education in Massachusetts

In 2007, 12% of child injury deaths in Massachusetts (2007) resulted from fire and burns. In 1996 Massachusetts Department of Fire Services initiated Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) grants to support local community fire departments to provide fire and life safety education in elementary schools. In the first 16 years of the program, child fire deaths decreased by nearly 70%, compared to the previous 14 years. Two hundred sixty-nine children have received 'young heroes' awards for using what they learned to save lives. The SAFE program includes training, opportunity for certification, technical assistance and, beginning in 2009, assessment of child learning. This presentation describes the program, focusing on design and implementation of a structured assessment of learning resulting from this education. The assessment has implemented a 3rd grade level multiple-choice test, with a user guide and database for use by firefighter/educators. Implementation included training on how to use the test and findings to improve teaching and outcomes. Data from first two years confirmed solid understanding of escape planning and fire prevention, and identified critical safety areas needing improved learning: proper maintenance of smoke detectors, burn prevention, correct stop-drop-and-roll and first aid for burns. MADFS is currently implementing phase two, a similar system for 6th grade students. A test for 10th grade students is being piloted in Spring 2012. Presentation will describe identification of concepts to be tested, design and testing of the assessment instrument, and implementation components: guide, database and training. Findings and applications will be described and discussed.