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TAPP-C
As deliberate fire setting by youths is a serious problem, our community
must work together to identify, assess, educate and counsel young
fire setters.
The percentage of fatal fires in Ontario caused by children playing with ignition sources is 10%. The TAPP-C program is designed to reduce fire setting behaviour in children through fire safety education, done by the fire department, and an assessment program conducted by mental health professionals. Since 1991, when the pilot project was initiated, many children have participated in both parts of this program. According to the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, a follow up survey of some of these children indicated that 70% have not continued to set fires. Of these children who have still set fires, no further burns or injuries have occurred as a result of their fire setting behaviour and they are receiving the treatment required. On average, a juvenile entered into the TAPP-C program has been involved in 11 previous episodes of fire setting. Approximately 35% of these children were under the age of 5 when they set their first fire.
In April 1995 the Kirkland Lake Fire Services came on board with the
TAPP-C program and in partnership with the Boreal Centre. The TAPP-C
program is for juvenile fire setters between the ages of 2 - 17, and
the Kirkland Lake Fire Services takes care of the entire Timiskaming
District.
The Program consists of an assessment done by the Boreal Centre and then 4 sessions of fire safety. First session consists of a home inspection at the client’s house and then 3 sessions at the fire station. At the conclusion of the sessions the client signs a contract stating that they will not play with lighters and matches again. The client’s guardian witnesses the signing of the contract.
All client information is strictly confidential and all information is kept under lock and key.
The TAPP-C program is in place not to scare the child, but to educate them in fire safety, by the fire fighter being their friend. In starting this program we hope to put our young fire setters on the right track to keep them, their families and our community safe.
For more information, please contact:
Kirkland Lake Fire Services
Tel: (705) 567-3400; Fax: (705) 567-3157
Email: fire@tkl.ca
Learn Not To Burn
The Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation has sent to every school in Ontario a Level One binder of the Learn Not To Burn curriculum. This binder contains the information necessary for the teacher of the primary grades ( K to grade 3) to teach fire safety to their students in 14 basic fire safety behaviours. Each lesson includes background fire safety information, discussion points, and reproducible activity sheets that can be integrated into classroom subjects such as language arts, math, art, health/safety and science. Also included are evaluation forms to test students' fire safety knowledge both before and after the new program has been implemented.
The Kirkland Lake Professional Fire Fighters’ Association provided the Learn Not To Burn Pre-School program to all registered daycares in Kirkland Lake. The program uses original songs, games, and activities to teach eight basic fire and burn prevention behaviours to children ages 3-5. The lessons in the program are short and simple and encourage active participation. The program includes a 60-page teacher's guide featuring detailed lesson plans, fire safety background information, letters to parents and reproducible colouring sheets. Each lesson is reinforced with a lively, easy-to-learn fire safety song included on a cassette tape of original music.
The Kirkland Lake Fire Service has conducted a workshop for the primary teachers of the Kirkland Lake schools. The workshop informed the teachers of the program and helped them understand how to implement this program. Fire Services also visits our schools with the Sparky Hazard House. This is a replica of a normal home. The home is filled with hazardous conditions or situations that the students must identify and correct to make the home fire safe. Also available is Sparky, our firedog mascot. Sparky is usually available for fire safety activities in our schools and public education events.
For more information, please contact:
Kirkland Lake Fire Services
Tel: (705) 567-3400; Fax: (705) 567-3157
Email: fire@tkl.ca
Older and Wiser
When it comes to fire safety, older adults need our help more that any other group. This is the reality underlying a new Ontario program called Older and Wiser. This program was developed by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, in partnership with the mayor and council of the City of North York, the North York Fire Department and Fire Prevention Canada. The program was distributed to every fire department in Ontario courtesy of North York.
The statistics behind the development of the program are stark. Adults over the age of 65 are at the greatest risk of dying in fire. As this is also the fastest growing age group in society, it is crucial that we do everything we can do to stop the rising toll of needless injuries and death. A survey conducted by the Office of the Fire Marshal indicated that 24% of the residential fire deaths in Ontario were people aged 65 or older. In 1995, adults over the age of 65 accounted for 33% or one third of all residential deaths in the province. This indicates that persons over the age of 65 are at risk three times higher than any other age group.
This program has a multi-pronged approach to reducing the number of fire deaths:
- It identifies the risks, noting that careless smoking continues to be a leading cause of fire deaths in the adult population. Adults over the age of 65 are at particular risk. The data shows that they are involved in more fires where their clothing is the first material ignited. This situation significantly reduces their chances of survival. Most victims fall asleep while smoking.
- Cooking can be hazardous for older adults. Many die as a result of their clothing catching on fire. It appears that most victims try to run for help because they have not been taught to Stop, Drop & Roll to extinguish the flames.
- Another common scenario is loose sleeve material igniting while they are reaching over a burner.
If you have a relative or friend in this vulnerable group, please take a few minutes to complete the Older & Wiser Home Fire Safety Check. It could be a lifesaver.
For more information, please contact:
Kirkland Lake Fire Services
Tel: (705) 567-3400; Fax: (705) 567-3157
Email: fire@tkl.ca
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