Today SPFD hosted an open house at Fire Station 1 for autistic kids and their families. The event was organized by our Public Education Specialist, Elizabeth Larkin, and some great members of the Autism Society of Minnesota. We were joined by volunteers from a number of agencies and departments, and we had a total turn out of about 50 kids and their families - about 150 people total.
The event was focused on getting autistic children comfortable around Firefighters, firefighting and EMS equipment and rigs, and to get Firefighters and paramedics comfortable working with autistic kids. There was a lot of great interaction and fun, and the B-shifters from Squad 3, Ladder 10, and Engine/Medic 10 did an outstanding job of hosting the event and working one-on-one with the families.
The event was a great way to share information on fire prevention topics and accident reduction with the families, AND a great way for Firefighters to learn about autism and how special those with autism really are! I look forward to doing similar events in the future and providing autism awareness and response training to all of our Firefighters!
The is still a week left in Fire Prevention Month. Please take a few minutes and test your smoke alarms and talk with your family about how you would escape a fire in your home. Practice your egress plan, and always "Have 2 Ways Out" of each room.
Take care, and stay safe.
Tim
Fire Chief Tim Butler
Thanks for checking out my web log! My radio call sign in Saint Paul is "Car 1." Join me as we go "On Scene" to the fire stations, training evolutions, emergency incidents, and community events in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Let's share perspectives on the issues facing our Department, our community, and the American Fire Service!
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