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PUBLIC EDUCATION
Public Education Specialist Tonya Gilardi
The Department of Fire & Rescue would like to introduce our Public Education Specialist, Tonya Gilardi. Tonya comes to the City with a wealth of information in education and community service experience.
This office is responsible for providing
life-saving information to the residents of Port Orange in a
variety of mediums. Realizing the key to
injury prevention is education; Port Orange Fire-Rescue has
expanded its programs to reach students of all ages.
Pre-schoolers "Learn Not to Burn"
through skits and plays with "Pluggie" our talking
robotic fire hydrant. Important messages like stop, drop and roll
are introduced through songs and play. In elementary school,
students through grade five look forward to educational games and
play through our Risk Watch Program. The Risk Watch lesson plan
includes Fire Safety, Bike Safety, Water Safety, Poisoning and
Choking Prevention, Falls Prevention, Stranger Danger, and Motor
Vehicle Safety. High School students receive career information
for several occupations in our Department and the Teen Parent
East program at Atlantic High School benefits from Pediatric
First Aid and infant/child CPR.
Schooled-age children are not the only audience
for our Public Education Programs. Wherever there is a need a
program is created. Adult residents can take part in CPR, First
Aid, Home Fire Safety, Hurricane Preparedness, and general child
safety. This office is also responsible for station tours, public
speaking engagements, special projects, and all information to be
disseminated to the public in the form of press releases.
The Safe Babysitting Course continues to remain
a favorite among area students. Students 11 years of age and up are instructed in areas of
safe baby handling, games to play, emergency first aid,
childproofing the home and other responsibilities.
The Department has four Certified Child Safety Seat Technician and averages
five child restraint device check-ups per week. The Fire Department replaces several
seats per year due to recalls or damage. We also provide seats to those families in need of assistance. NHTSA and AAA report
that 99% of all child safety seats are installed incorrectly and
have at least two errors. This figure coincides with POFR’s
data. Please call 386-506-5900 for an appointment for a seat check or install.
ElderLinks, in conjunction with Volusia County Council on Aging, continues to provide immediate assistance to those elderly patients who cannot help themselves.
Check out http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/kidzone/play.htm
for interactive fire safety activities for people of all ages!
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