Sparkles' fire safety program impacts those most at risk from fire:
children, as well as their caregivers.
According to a report from FEMA's
Topical Fire Report Series (Volume 11, Issue 9 / February 2011),
children age 4 and younger, are those least able to make their way to
safety without help and account for roughly half of all childhood deaths
and injuries suffered in fires. In addition, the report states that
children younger than 5 made up 52% of the deaths of children younger
than 16 in fires in 2007 and comprised of 46% of the injuries that year.
In addition, the National Center on Health Statistics reports that there has been a consistent decline in child mortality from fire over the past decade. However, hundreds of child deaths from fire continue each year. Children playing with fire accounts for a large portion of child fire deaths; the majority of these occur as result of residential fires. Of fires that resulted in child injuries, an annual average of 90% were residential and those that resulted in child deaths, an annual average of 94% were residential.
The Fire Safety Dogs want to do whatever they can to help change these unfortunate statistics and help keep children and their caregivers fire safe.
In January 2009, we received a note from Principal Tanya Davis, on the heroic behavior of two Celia Clinton Elementary students. Recently, the Rotary Club of Tulsa purchased Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, a children’s fire safety book, for each of Davis’ students. Sparkles, being the ever faithful fire safety educator that she is, made the trip with Firefighter Dayna to share her book and fire safety messages at the school.
Below is Principal Davis’ note: “The other day one of our Kindergarten student’s house caught fire in the middle of the night. She and her father both escaped. The father spent a few days in ICU for smoke inhalation on a ventilator. After a few days out, she came back to school and I had the chance to talk with her. I asked her how she got out of the house. She said, "I crawled on the floor just like Sparkles taught me to." She got down on the floor and demonstrated it to me right in the office floor. She said "smoke was everywhere and I stayed low to get away from it." Then, I was walking down the hallway on Monday and one of my third graders came running up to me and said, "Mrs. Davis, my microwave caught on fire and I grabbed my brothers and sisters and we got out of the house because we saw smoke." She took a quick breath and then said, "Sparkles taught us to get out quick, so we ran outside. My mom couldn't find us because we were all outside." She said "Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles would be very proud of us." I told her I would email you and let you know about this.” Sparkles and I are thankful that the children and their families are safe. We appreciate Principal Davis for sharing this fire safety story!
An article in the Tulsa World appeared on November 25th. It may be read HERE or by clicking on the photo below.
A few pictures from the event on November 24 may be seen
HERE. Notes from students at Celia Clinton may be found throughout the blog.
Sparkles and the Fire Safety Dogs support the following causes:
According to a report from FEMA's
Topical Fire Report Series (Volume 11, Issue 9 / February 2011),
children age 4 and younger, are those least able to make their way to
safety without help and account for roughly half of all childhood deaths
and injuries suffered in fires. In addition, the report states that
children younger than 5 made up 52% of the deaths of children younger
than 16 in fires in 2007 and comprised of 46% of the injuries that year.In addition, the National Center on Health Statistics reports that there has been a consistent decline in child mortality from fire over the past decade. However, hundreds of child deaths from fire continue each year. Children playing with fire accounts for a large portion of child fire deaths; the majority of these occur as result of residential fires. Of fires that resulted in child injuries, an annual average of 90% were residential and those that resulted in child deaths, an annual average of 94% were residential.
The Fire Safety Dogs want to do whatever they can to help change these unfortunate statistics and help keep children and their caregivers fire safe.
LIVES SAVED:
In January 2009, we received a note from Principal Tanya Davis, on the heroic behavior of two Celia Clinton Elementary students. Recently, the Rotary Club of Tulsa purchased Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, a children’s fire safety book, for each of Davis’ students. Sparkles, being the ever faithful fire safety educator that she is, made the trip with Firefighter Dayna to share her book and fire safety messages at the school.
Below is Principal Davis’ note: “The other day one of our Kindergarten student’s house caught fire in the middle of the night. She and her father both escaped. The father spent a few days in ICU for smoke inhalation on a ventilator. After a few days out, she came back to school and I had the chance to talk with her. I asked her how she got out of the house. She said, "I crawled on the floor just like Sparkles taught me to." She got down on the floor and demonstrated it to me right in the office floor. She said "smoke was everywhere and I stayed low to get away from it." Then, I was walking down the hallway on Monday and one of my third graders came running up to me and said, "Mrs. Davis, my microwave caught on fire and I grabbed my brothers and sisters and we got out of the house because we saw smoke." She took a quick breath and then said, "Sparkles taught us to get out quick, so we ran outside. My mom couldn't find us because we were all outside." She said "Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles would be very proud of us." I told her I would email you and let you know about this.” Sparkles and I are thankful that the children and their families are safe. We appreciate Principal Davis for sharing this fire safety story!
Angelica and Dystiny's story:
An article in the Tulsa World appeared on November 25th. It may be read HERE or by clicking on the photo below.
A few pictures from the event on November 24 may be seen
HERE. Notes from students at Celia Clinton may be found throughout the blog.
Sparkles and the Fire Safety Dogs support the following causes:
Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation
