American Red Cross Great Escapes Program

At the American Red Cross of Washtenaw County, Michigan, we respond to a number of types of emergencies in the area, but the one we respond to most often is home fire. My role at the chapter is to provide Community Disaster Education to youth throughout the county and my focus has become the Great Escapes fire safety program. Great Escapes is designed to teach fire safety skills to students in preschool through 5th grade. Trained volunteers give a 45-minute lesson and afterward, the students are led outside for the local fire departments' presentation of the fire truck. The exact lesson varies depending on the age range of the students and the content requested by teacher and group leaders. Upon completion of the program, preseners distribute information about fire safety for students to bring home to complete with their families, which includes a "Fire Escape Plan." Depending on the involvement of the school and local fire department, students may be entered into a drawing to win a prize upon completion of the "Fire Escape Plan." In the past, this has been a ride home from school on a fire truck or a tour of the fire station with their families. My ultimate goal is to prepare most families in our area for home fires.